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Sunday, May 22, 2011

Blackpool and Birmingham City relegated from English Premier League

Blackpool's one-season stay in the top flight ended in a 2-4 defeat at Old Trafford with a rollercoaster ride of emotions on the final day.

Boss Ian Holloway knew only three points would give Blackpool a realistic chance of survival amid the dramatic twists and turns of the final day of the campaign, as five clubs fought to secure Premier League status.

And when goals from Charlie Adam and Gary Taylor-Fletcher turned around an early deficit into a 2-1 lead at Old Trafford, the Tangerines looked on course to navigate an unlikely path to survival at the home of the newly-crowned champions, who have lost only two points at home all season.

Sadly for Holloway, his players and the thousands of Blackpool supporters who travelled in hope of an escape, Man United scored three times in the final 30 minutes.

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Birmingham were relegated to the Championship after they lost 1-2 at Tottenham, with Roman Pavlyuchenko's late goal for Tottenham clinching victory for the home side.

Early on results elsewhere were going City's way, and Birmingham seemed safe when Craig Gardner equalised mid-way through the second half after substitute Pavlyuchenko had given Tottenham the lead.

But Wolves' second goal in their 2-3 defeat by Blackburn put Birmingham City back in the bottom three, and Pavlyuchenko's last-minute strike confirmed the Blues' fate.

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FINAL STANDINGS


Pos Team               Pl   GD  Pts
16   Wigan             38   -21 42
17   Wolves           38   -20 40
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18   Birmingham   38   -21 39
19   Blackpool       38   -23 39
20   West Ham      38    -27 33

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