Wigan win condemns Blades to drop
Wigan celebrate their Premiership survival
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Sunday, 13, May 2007 08:13
Sheffield United have been relegated after a 2-1 defeat to ten-man Wigan at Bramall Lane in a nerve-jangling final day of the Premiership season.
Jon Stead had cancelled out Paul Scharner's opener for the Latics but David Unsworth's penalty condemned the Blades to Championship football next season.
Lee McCulloch was sent-off in the closing stages for the Latics but the Blades were unable to capitalise despite throwing everyone forward in the dying minutes.
Neil Warnock's side finish on the same points as Wigan but have conceded just one more goal than Wigan, which sees them finish in the drop zone.
West Ham will join the Latics in the Premiership next season after a 1-0 win over champions Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Paul Jewell's side started the brighter as the Blades look nervous knowing their Premiership future was at stake.
Antonio Valencia crossed for Emile Heskey with the ex-England striker just failing to meet the ball on six minutes.
Eight minutes later, the visitors took a deserved lead when Kevin Kilbane slid the ball through to Scharner who fired home past Paddy Kenny.
Wigan continued to boss the game with Scharner heading narrowly over the bar mid-way through the first half.
Latics boss Paul Jewell was forced into a change when skipper Arjen de Zeeuw went off with an ankle injury and was replaced by Josip Skoko.
Eight minutes before the break, United equalised through striker Stead after a blunder from Mike Pollitt.
The goalkeeper came out for a cross only for Stead to bravely head Phil Jagielka's cross to make it 1-1.
Jewell was then forced into another change with veteran Unsworth coming on for the injured Ryan Taylor.
In first half stoppage time, Jagielka was adjudged to have handled by referee Mike Reid who immediately blew for a penalty.
Unsworth stepped up and calmly slotted the ball to Kenny's left to give the visitors the lead.
Wigan could have sealed the game five minutes into the second half but Kenny produced a sensational save to palm away Heskey's overhead kick.
Four minutes later, Danny Webber missed a golden chance to equalise but rattled the post after being sent through on goal.
United had a penalty shout turned down when Emmerson Boyce appeared to tug Stead in the box.
Wigan had to cling on in the closing stages after McCullough was given a second yellow for a foul on Michael Tonge.
Despite five minutes of stoppage time, the Blades could not find a goal to the dismay of the home crowd.