Blackburn v Wigan
Blackburn have been relegated to the Championship after losing at home to Wigan, whose Premier League status is secure for next season.
Antolin Alcaraz headed the Latics to victory from a corner late on a rainy and rancorous night at Ewood Park.
Only a win would have given Rovers a chance of avoiding the drop but they were sloppy and shot-shy.
Analysis
"When Venky's bought into Blackburn, the mission statement was to preserve and build on Jack Walker's legacy. It has been squandered to such an extent that relegation may not be the end of that downward spiral."
The visitors were lively in the first half, less so in the second, but took their chance to claim a decisive win.
It is a remarkable sixth victory in eight games for the Latics and leaves them five points clear of the relegation zone with one game left to play.
The result brings about a disastrous conclusion to what has been a turbulent season for Blackburn and their manager Steve Kean and an end to their 11-year stay in the Premier League.
The Scot has regularly been the focal point for abuse from frustrated Rovers fans, unhappy with his management and the way the club is being run by the owners, Indian poultry firm Venky's.
This continued on Monday in the form of mass chanting throughout, a lone fan invading the pitch at the start of the second half and, presumably, the reason why a chicken draped in a Blackburn flag appeared in the Wigan box five minutes into the game and had to be caught by Latics goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi.
Blackburn chicken interrupts Wigan match
The goal four minutes from time heightened calls for Kean's sacking and the exit of Venky's, which only increased when the final whistle blew to confirm Rovers' fate.
Venky's looked set to be rewarded for sticking with Kean when he led them six points clear of the drop zone following a win over Sunderland on 20 March, but a disastrous run of seven defeats in eight games since then has cost the club.
Their performance here was meek as they limped out of the division. It was only in the second half that they had any attacking impetus and even then this was only intermittently.
Yakubu, who has been one of very few redeeming features of Blackburn's season, had a close-range volley blocked on the line and Junior Hoilett, their other shining light, was clearly caught by a swinging boot Emmerson Boyce, but when referee Mark Clattenburg waved away the penalty appeals, Rovers hopes were dented.
Fallen champions
Blackburn are the only former Premier League champions that have been relegated. They have suffered this fate twice. In 1999, they made the descent to the second tier, where they stayed for two seasons before winning promotion back to the top flight in 2000-2001.
Blackburn's plight has been compounded by the form of Wigan, who were rock bottom when Rovers beat Sunderland but, in stark contrast to Kean's side, have been in scintillating form since late March, including hugely impressive victories over Manchester United, Arsenal and Newcastle.
The Latics' success is testimony to their manager Roberto Martinez, who has stuck to his passing principles, and owner Dave Whelan, who remained loyal to the Spaniard despite the threat of relegation.
The visitors were sharp throughout, zipping passes neatly around the increasingly wet surface and always looked the more likely to score.
Franco di Santo fired a good chance over, Victor Moses fluffed an even better chance from close range when he misjudged a header from Boyce's cross and Shaun Maloney spurned a header of his own from the same supplier.
In the end, though, none of these mattered as Alcaraz rose highest at the back post to power a header in from a corner to confirm his side's safety and send Rovers spinning into the second tier.
Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (4)
Blackburn Rovers
- 01 Robinson
- 03 Mn Olsson
- 05 Givet (Petrovic - 46' Booked )
- 16 Dann
- 18 Orr (Goodwillie - 80' )
- 08 Dunn (Ms Olsson - 44' )
- 12 Pedersen Booked
- 35 Lowe
- 09 Modeste
- 23 Hoilett
- 24 Yakubu
Substitutes
- 34 Kean
- 10 Formica
- 14 Petrovic
- 15 Nzonzi
- 21 Ms Olsson
- 20 Rochina
- 25 Goodwillie
Wigan Athletic
- 26 Al Habsi
- 03 Alcaraz
- 05 Caldwell
- 17 Boyce
- 31 Figueroa
- 04 McCarthy
- 10 Maloney
- 11 Moses Booked
- 16 McArthur
- 22 Beausejour
- 09 Di Santo (Sammon - 85' )
Substitutes
- 12 Pollitt
- 07 Crusat
- 08 Watson
- 14 Gomez
- 21 Diame
- 18 Sammon
- 20 Rodallega
Live Text Commentary
Full Time The referee brings the game to a close.
90:00 +2:33Unfair challenge on James McArthur by Radosav Petrovic results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Gary Caldwell.
88:47Martin Olsson concedes a free kick for a foul on Victor Moses. Emmerson Boyce restarts play with the free kick.
87:42Shot from just outside the area by Anthony Modeste goes over the bar.
86:19Assist on the goal came from Jean Beausejour.
86:19 Goal scoredGoal! - Antolin Alcaraz - Blackburn 0 - 1 Wigan Antolin Alcaraz finds the net with a headed goal from inside the six-yard box. Blackburn 0-1 Wigan.
85:50Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Jean Beausejour,
85:43Centre by Victor Moses, Martin Olsson manages to make a clearance.
84:08Free kick taken by Paul Robinson.
84:08 SubstitutionSubstitution Conor Sammon joins the action as a substitute, replacing Franco Di Santo.
84:08Foul by Franco Di Santo on Marcus Olsson, free kick awarded.
82:57A cross is delivered by Emmerson Boyce, Shaun Maloney has a header from close in and clears the crossbar.
80:48Victor Moses takes a shot. Save by Paul Robinson. James McCarthy takes a shot. Save made by Paul Robinson.
79:26Emmerson Boyce restarts play with the free kick.
79:26 SubstitutionSubstitution Bradley Orr goes off and David Goodwillie comes on.
79:26Radosav Petrovic concedes a free kick for a foul on Shaun Maloney.
79:11Martin Olsson sends in a cross, save by Ali Al Habsi.
78:38Marcus Olsson takes a shot. Blocked by James McCarthy.
78:10Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Morten Gamst Pedersen from the right by-line, clearance by Franco Di Santo.
77:57David Hoilett takes a shot. Ali Al Habsi makes a save.
Marcus Olsson takes a shot. Antolin Alcaraz gets a block in.
77:09Franco Di Santo takes a shot. Save made by Paul Robinson.
76:20Unfair challenge on Antolin Alcaraz by Scott Dann results in a free kick. Ali Al Habsi takes the direct free kick.
75:44James McArthur gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Radosav Petrovic. Direct free kick taken by Paul Robinson.
71:44Emmerson Boyce produces a cross, save by Paul Robinson.
71:32Free kick taken by Paul Robinson.
70:57 BookingBooking Victor Moses is cautioned by the ref for unsporting behaviour.
69:02Anthony Modeste takes a shot. Save made by Ali Al Habsi.
67:54Corner taken by Jean Beausejour played to the near post.
66:37Shaun Maloney produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick.
66:37 BookingBooking Morten Gamst Pedersen is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
66:35Foul by Morten Gamst Pedersen on Shaun Maloney, free kick awarded.
65:22Radosav Petrovic fouled by Franco Di Santo, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Paul Robinson.
64:49Franco Di Santo has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the left-hand upright.
62:28Free kick awarded for a foul by Franco Di Santo on Marcus Olsson. The free kick is swung in left-footed by Morten Gamst Pedersen, save by Ali Al Habsi.
59:20Antolin Alcaraz restarts play with the free kick.
59:20 BookingBooking Radosav Petrovic goes into the referee's book.
59:17Victor Moses fouled by Radosav Petrovic, the ref awards a free kick.
58:31Marcus Olsson fouled by Gary Caldwell, the ref awards a free kick. Morten Gamst Pedersen crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from left channel.
57:20Victor Moses challenges Morten Gamst Pedersen unfairly and gives away a free kick. Paul Robinson takes the free kick.
56:33Shot on goal by Victor Moses from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.
55:30Anthony Modeste takes a shot. Save by Ali Al Habsi.
54:53Foul by Franco Di Santo on Martin Olsson, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Paul Robinson.
54:27Effort from a long way out by Victor Moses goes wide right of the goal.
53:18Foul by Radosav Petrovic on Jean Beausejour, free kick awarded. Jean Beausejour takes the free kick.
52:31Outswinging corner taken by Morten Gamst Pedersen from the left by-line, Ayegbeni Yakubu takes a shot. Jean Beausejour gets a block in.
51:54James McCarthy produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the area and misses to the left of the goal.
51:30Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Jean Beausejour from the left by-line, clearance made by Scott Dann.
51:22Jean Beausejour takes a shot. Morten Gamst Pedersen gets a block in.
51:00A cross is delivered by James McCarthy, clearance made by Morten Gamst Pedersen.
49:04David Hoilett fouled by Victor Moses, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by Morten Gamst Pedersen, save by Ali Al Habsi.
48:41Unfair challenge on Maynor Figueroa by Anthony Modeste results in a free kick. Maynor Figueroa restarts play with the free kick.
48:02The official flags Franco Di Santo offside. Free kick taken by Paul Robinson.
47:52James McArthur fouled by Radosav Petrovic, the ref awards a free kick. Gary Caldwell takes the direct free kick.
47:10Anthony Modeste takes a shot. Blocked by Gary Caldwell.
46:49Corner taken by Morten Gamst Pedersen.
46:31Morten Gamst Pedersen takes a shot. James McCarthy gets a block in.
45:55Corner taken left-footed by Morten Gamst Pedersen, clearance made by Antolin Alcaraz.
45:01The second half has started.
45:01 SubstitutionSubstitution Radosav Petrovic joins the action as a substitute, replacing Gael Givet.
45:00 +2:04 Half timeHalf Time The match has reached half-time.
45:00 +1:10The ball is crossed by Shaun Maloney, clearance by Gael Givet.
43:43 SubstitutionSubstitution Marcus Olsson comes on in place of David Dunn.
42:20Emmerson Boyce crosses the ball, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Victor Moses misses to the left of the goal.
41:33The assistant referee flags for offside against Franco Di Santo. Indirect free kick taken by Paul Robinson.
40:56Morten Gamst Pedersen challenges James McCarthy unfairly and gives away a free kick. Gary Caldwell takes the direct free kick.
39:25Unfair challenge on David Hoilett by Maynor Figueroa results in a free kick. Free kick crossed by Morten Gamst Pedersen.
37:28A cross is delivered by David Dunn.
36:35Free kick awarded for a foul by James McArthur on Ayegbeni Yakubu. Paul Robinson takes the free kick.
36:09Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Jean Beausejour from the right by-line.
35:38The ball is sent over by Franco Di Santo, Victor Moses takes a shot.
34:03The ball is delivered by James McCarthy, save made by Paul Robinson.
30:59Morten Gamst Pedersen gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Victor Moses. Shaun Maloney restarts play with the free kick. Shaun Maloney has shot on goal from just outside the area which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
29:40Anthony Modeste gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on James McCarthy. Gary Caldwell restarts play with the free kick.
26:47Unfair challenge on Anthony Modeste by James McCarthy results in a free kick. Morten Gamst Pedersen has an effort direct from the free kick.
25:28Ayegbeni Yakubu produces a cross, clearance made by Maynor Figueroa.
24:47A cross is delivered by Shaun Maloney, Antolin Alcaraz concedes a free kick for a foul on Martin Olsson. Direct free kick taken by Paul Robinson.
24:03Shaun Maloney decides to take the corner short.
23:49Victor Moses takes a shot. Save by Paul Robinson.
23:10Anthony Modeste sends in a cross, clearance made by Gary Caldwell.
21:45The ball is crossed by Emmerson Boyce, save by Paul Robinson.
20:30Foul by David Hoilett on Emmerson Boyce, free kick awarded. James McArthur takes the direct free kick.
19:20Effort from just outside the box by David Dunn goes over the bar.
18:38Corner from the right by-line taken by Morten Gamst Pedersen, clearance made by James McArthur.
17:58The ball is sent over by Jean Beausejour, Scott Dann manages to make a clearance.
13:44Franco Di Santo takes a shot from just inside the penalty box which clears the bar.
12:29The ball is sent over by Emmerson Boyce, Scott Dann manages to make a clearance.
10:53Morten Gamst Pedersen gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Franco Di Santo. Direct free kick taken by Franco Di Santo.
10:05Effort on goal by Anthony Modeste from outside the penalty box goes harmlessly over the bar.
8:18Corner taken left-footed by Jean Beausejour, Antolin Alcaraz takes a shot. Gael Givet gets a block in.
8:08Franco Di Santo takes a shot. Save by Paul Robinson.
5:53The ball is sent over by Jean Beausejour, Gael Givet makes a clearance.
3:41Shot from just outside the area by Victor Moses goes over the bar.
2:09Franco Di Santo delivers the ball, clearance by Scott Dann.
0:00The ref blows the whistle to start the match.
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