Chelsea draw, Arsenal lose, West Ham get relegated

With the title decided, the focus now moves towards the relegation battle. And West Ham United manager Avram Grant was the first casualty after his side were relegated from the Premier League on Sunday while Chelsea gained a sliver of compensation for a trophy-less season by effectively securing the runners-up spot. West Ham’s fate was sealed on the penultimate weekend of the season after a 3-2 defeat at fellow strugglers Wigan Athletic left the Londoners marooned at the foot of the table. “The club can confirm that Avram Grant is no longer the manager of West Ham United,” West Ham said in a brief statement on their website (www.whufc.com). [caption id=“attachment_10072” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Chelsea’s Brazilian defender Alex celebrates after scoring against Newcastle United. AFP / Ben Stansall”]  [/caption] Chelsea, whose hopes of retaining their title ended when Manchester United were crowned champions on Saturday, were held to a 2-2 draw by Newcastle United but inconsistent Arsenal lost 2-1 to Aston Villa and cannot now catch their London rivals. FA Cup winners Manchester City could still finish runners-up but it is an unlikely scenario given their very inferior goal difference. City, though, could still pip Arsenal for the third automatic Champions League place. Liverpool missed the chance to secure fifth spot and a Europa League place at the expense of Tottenham Hotspur after a 2-0 home defeat to the London side who leapfrogged them into the European position. Wigan’s dramatic victory over West Ham, secured by Charles N’Zogbia’s stoppage time winner after the hosts had battled back from two goals down, gave them a lifeline going into the finale of the season next weekend. Just one point separates second bottom Wigan (39 points), Blackpool (39), Birmingham City (39), who lost 2-0 at home to Fulham, Wolverhampton Wanderers (40) and Blackburn Rovers (40). “Everyone at Wigan can be very proud… I hope everyone can be proud of these players next week,” Wigan manager Roberto Martinez said looking ahead to next week’s clash at Stoke City. West Ham will start next season in the Championship (second division) after their already slim hopes of staying up were quashed by the Wigan revival. Two goals from Demba Ba had West Ham 2-0 up in the first 26 minutes but N’Zogbia started the comeback with a ferocious free kick 12 minutes after the restart. Substitute Conor Sammon made it 2-2 on 68 before N’Zogbia sent the Wigan fans into a frenzy when he won it at the death. Shortly afterwards West Ham announced Israeli Grant’s departure, ending his one season in charge at Upton Park having also been relegated with Portsmouth last term. Chelsea twice threw away the lead against Newcastle at Stamford Bridge. Branislav Ivanovic fired Chelsea into a second-minute lead but his strike was quickly cancelled out when Ryan Taylor blasted in a free kick that ricocheted off the shoulder of Jonas Gutierrez and wrongfooted Petr Cech. Brazilian defender Alex headed home to put Chelsea 2-1 up but Steven Taylor earned Newcastle a point in stoppage time. Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti, who steered the Blues to the title in his first season in charge last term, again faced questions over his Stamford Bridge future. “I don’t know what happens, we have to wait and after that I can explain,” the Italian told Chelsea’s website (www.chelseafac.com). “Everyone can give their opinion about my job here but it is the club that has to take a decision and judge my job. “If my job is good I will stay. If they think my job was not good I have to go. In my opinion sometimes I did a good job, sometimes I could do better.” Two goals from Darren Bent inflicted a fourth home league defeat of the season on Arsenal, who could only reply a minute from time through Robin van Persie. Liverpool’s first game since Kenny Dalglish was appointed permanent manager on Thursday ended in bitter disappointment at Anfield. Dalglish has dragged Liverpool from the threat of relegation to contention for European qualification but a superb strike from Rafael van der Vaart and a Luca Modric penalty put Spurs in pole position for Europa League football next season. Reuters