Chelsea win title, Birmingham and WBA go down
Injured Rooney out for six weeks, in doubt for World Cup
Chelsea staged a Premier League title-winning party after a 3-0 rout of Manchester United yesterday but it was doom and gloom for Midlands clubs Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion who were relegated.
Goals from William Gallas, Joe Cole and Ricardo Carvalho sealed a second successive title for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and United's misery was complete when England striker Wayne Rooney was carried off on a stretcher with a foot injury.
Late last night, Manchester United confirmed that Rooney had fractured a bone in his right foot and will be out for six weeks. "Wayne Rooney has a fracture of the base of the fourth metatarsal on his right foot. He will be out for six weeks," said a club statement.
The injury puts Rooney's appearance in the forthcoming World Cup very much in doubt. England's opening game against Paraguay is on June 10 in Frankfurt.
Liverpool kept alive their hopes of pipping United for second place, moving level on points with their rivals after Steven Gerrard scored twice in a 3-1 defeat of Aston Villa.
United and Liverpool have 79 points to Chelsea's 91, although United are still favourites to finish second as they have an extra game remaining.
There were emotional scenes before and after Charlton Athletic's 2-0 home defeat by Blackburn Rovers as it was announced that Alan Curbishley, the second-longest serving top flight manager behind United's Alex Ferguson, was quitting at the end of the season.
Chelsea's joy was mirrored by Portsmouth's fans at Wigan's JJB Stadium where a 2-1 victory for the south coast side completed a remarkable escape from the drop.
For the second week running Pompey, who looked destined for relegation two months ago, came from a goal behind to clinch victory with a Matt Taylor penalty.
Portsmouth's victory condemned Birmingham, who could only draw 0-0 at home to Newcastle, and West Brom, who play West Ham tomorrow. They will join Sunderland in the second division next season.
"I had to throw a team together at Christmas," said Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp, who returned for a second spell at the club in December to replace Alain Perrin.
"I took over a poor squad, with many players who were nowhere near good enough to play for Pompey. I shipped the ones out who weren't interested in playing for us and brought in players who wanted to play for this club."
Two days after an astonishing 4-3 aggregate win over Steaua Bucharest in the UEFA Cup semi-final, Middlesbrough made nine changes and lost 1-0 at Red card: Teale (W) 70
Playing today
Tottenham vs Bolton 5 p.m.
Playing Tomorrow
Man. United vs M'Boro 9 p.m.
Sunderland vs Arsenal 6.15 p.m.
West Brom vs West Ham 9 p.m.
Top scorers
23 goals: Henry (Arsenal)
21 goals: van Nistelrooy (Man. Utd)
18 goals: D. Bent (Charlton)
16 goals: Lampard (Chelsea), Keane (Tottenham), Rooney (Man. United)
14 goals: Harewood (West Ham)
Premier League Fixtures
Tuesday: Premier League 9 p.m. Blackburn vs Chelsea.
Wednesday: Premier League 9 p.m. Bolton vs Middlesbrough.
Thursday: Premier League 8.45 p.m. Man. City vs Arsenal; Sunderland vs Fulham.
Sunday: Premier League (last programme) 4 p.m. Arsenal vs Wigan; Aston Villa vs Sunderland; Blackburn vs Manchester City; Bolton vs Birmingham; Everton vs West Brom; Fulham vs Middlesbrough; Manchester United vs Charlton; Newcastle vs Chelsea; Portsmouth vs Liverpool; West Ham vs Tottenham.