LONDON, 16 May 2005 — West Bromwich Albion made a slice of Premier League history as they survived and Southampton, Norwich City and Crystal Palace were relegated in a dramatic finale yesterday.
While champions Chelsea settled for a 1-1 draw at Newcastle United, West Brom’s survival and Palace’s relegation were sealed in the last eight minutes of a nine-month season.
West Brom reached 34 points and safety with a 2-0 home win over Portsmouth, becoming the first club to avoid relegation after being bottom at Christmas since the Premier League started in 1992-93.
Palace missed out only because they conceded a goal in the 82nd minute in a 2-2 draw at Charlton Athletic.
Palace’s goal difference on 33 points kept them ahead of Norwich, who were crushed 6-0 at Fulham and Southampton’s 27-year stay in the top flight ended on 32 points and a 2-1 defeat at home to Manchester United.
Middlesbrough pipped Manchester City to the final UEFA Cup slot after holding Stuart Pearce’s men to a 1-1 draw. City’s Robbie Fowler missed a stoppage-time penalty which allowed Boro to join Liverpool and Bolton Wanderers in Europe.
Chelsea finished the season with a Premier League record 95 points, 12 clear of Arsenal who went down 2-1 at Birmingham City following a 90th minute winner from Emile Heskey.
Chelsea’s Frank Lampard converted a penalty two minutes after a 33rd minute own goal by teammate Geremi put Newcastle in front.
Geremi’s goal ended Chelsea’s hopes of setting an all-time defensive record as their 15 conceded matched Preston North End’s in the 22-match inaugural Football League season in 1888-89. It was enough, though, for the modern era — bettering the 16 conceded by Liverpool in 1978-79. United and Everton, who lost 3-2 to Bolton, will go through to the final qualifying round for the Champions League. Before then, United will play Arsenal in Saturday’s FA Cup final while Liverpool, who beat Aston Villa 2-1 with two goals from Djibril Cisse, meet AC Milan in the Champions League final.
Beattie Goal Puts Celtic Back on Top
In Glasgow, a late winner from substitute Craig Beattie sent Celtic back to the top of the Scottish Premier League with a 2-1 win over managerless Hearts at Tynecastle yesterday.
Last year’s champions Celtic have 92 points, two clear of Rangers, who beat Motherwell 4-1 on Saturday, with one match each to play. Celtic travel to Motherwell while Rangers face third-placed Hibernian next Sunday.
Alan Thompson opened the scoring in the 25th minute with an angled shot which deflected off Hearts defender Robbie Neilson and away from keeper Craig Gordon.
Hearts’ Paul Hartley swept home the equalizer on 71 minutes following a surging run by Neilson through the midfield.
Chris Sutton headed off the underside of the bar and on to the goal line on 75 minutes. Beattie, who replaced John Hartson, snatched the winner a couple of minutes later after a good run and pass from Stilian Petrov.
A goal in the 89th minute from Gary Mason virtually secured Dunfermline’s top flight status as they beat Dundee United 1-0.
Albacete Relegated but Mallorca Stay Alive
In Madrid, Albacete’s relegation from the Spanish first division was confirmed when they went down 1-0 at Villarreal but Real Mallorca continue to hang on with a 4-3 win over Athletic Bilbao yesterday.
Villarreal’s Juan Roman Riquelme got his 15th goal of the season, scoring the only goal of the game from the penalty spot after Albacete’s Garciaz Agus had felled Jose Mari Romero.
The win means that Villarreal move up to third with two games to go and remain strong candidates to qualify for the Champions League for the first time.
Bilbao still have a slim chance of qualifying for the UEFA Cup but a 2-2 draw between Real Zaragoza and Deportivo La Coruna meant both those teams dropped out of the running.
Two first half goals from Xisco Jimenez gave Deportivo the advantage at the break but Zaragoza fought back after half time and a brace from David Generelo meant honors were even, although the draw ultimately did no one any favors.
Racing Santander secured their status as a first division club with a 2-1 win over Getafe.
