West Brom survive scramble

West Bromwich Albion FC maintained their top-flight status with a 2-0 win against Portsmouth FC as Southampton FC, Norwich City FC and Crystal Palace FC were relegated on the final day of the Premiership season, while Middlesbrough FC secured the final UEFA Cup berth.

Dramatic escape
West Brom started the day at the foot of the table, but goals from Geoff Horsfield and Kieran Richardson at the Hawthorns saw them leapfrog all three of their relegation rivals into the safety of 16th place by just one point.

Late heartbreak
However, it could have been different had Jon Fortune not equalised for Charlton Athletic FC against Crystal Palace with just eight minutes of their game remaining. Iain Dowie's side looked to have secured another season of top-flight football after Dougie Freedman and an Andy Johnson penalty had overturned Bryan Hughes' first-half strike, before Fortune condemned them to relegation late on.

Saints down
They will be joined in the Championship by Southampton who lost 2-1 against Manchester United FC. An own goal from John O’Shea had put the Saints ahead, but the lead lasted just nine minutes before Darren Fletcher equalised. Ruud van Nistelrooij then sealed Southampton’s fate with a 63rd-minute header.

Norwich numbed
Norwich, who began the final round of fixtures outside the drop zone, would have guaranteed their top-flight status with victory at Fulham FC. But they failed to recover from Brian McBride's early strike and the American later added another, while Papa Bouba Diop, Zat Knight, Steed Malbranque and Andy Cole were also on target in a 6-0 victory.

Middlesbrough joy
Middlesbrough ensured a second consecutive season of European football after a 1-1 draw at Manchester City FC. Victory for the hosts would have seen them leapfrog Middlesbrough into the final UEFA Cup spot after Tottenham Hotspur FC, the other contenders for seventh place, were held 0-0 by Blackburn Rovers FC.

Last-gasp penalty
Middlesbrough were indebted to goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer who saved a 90th-minute Robbie Fowler penalty to earn his side the point after Kiki Musampa had cancelled out Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s opener.

European qualifiers
They will be joined in the UEFA Cup by Bolton Wanderers FC, who defeated Everton FC 3-2 and UEFA Champions League finalists Liverpool FC, who won 2-1 against Aston Villa FC. Elsewhere, Premiership champions Chelsea FC drew 1-1 at Newcastle United FC and second-placed Arsenal FC lost 2-1 at Birmingham City FC.