Leicester relegated as Manchester City beat Newcastle
LONDON, May 1: Leicester City were condemned to relegation after one season in the premier league on Saturday despite a 2-2 draw at Charlton Athletic following Manchester City's 1-0 home win over Newcastle United.
With two games remaining they cannot catch fourth-bottom Manchester City, who took three priceless points against injury-hit Newcastle thanks to a Paulo Wanchope header.
Wolverhampton Wanderers will need a mathematical miracle if they are not to join Leicester in an immediate return to the first division despite coming from behind to beat Everton 2-1.
Leeds United, who visit Bolton Wanderers on Sunday, look favourites to join them in going down but still have an outside chance of staying up.
At the top, Chelsea consolidated their grip on second place with a 4-0 home win over Southampton. With two games remaining they are four points ahead of Manchester United, who lost 1-0 at Blackburn Rovers with a weakened team.
Arsenal, crowned champions almost a week ago, remained on course to go through the league season unbeaten after a 0-0 home draw with Birmingham City.
The champions have 83 points from 35 games. Chelsea, who face Monaco in the second leg of their Champions League semifinal on Wednesday, look certain to claim automatic qualification for the group stage of the competition next season as they moved on to 75 points from 36 games.
Manchester United, who put out almost a reserve side in at Blackburn, have 71 points, also with two games left.
The battle for fourth place - and the final Champions League qualifying slot - has swung Liverpool's way. They have 53 points, the same as Newcastle, but can move clear with a home win over Middlesbrough on Sunday.
Aston Villa, sixth on 52 points are also in action on Sunday at home to Tottenham Hotspur.
From the bottom up, Leicester have 30 points, Wolves 32 and Leeds also 32 but with a game in hand. Manchester City, with a hugely superior goal difference than Wolves, have 38.
Tottenham and Everton are not absolutely safe on 39 points but Portsmouth, with 41, almost certainly are after they made it five wins and two draws from their last seven games with a 1-1 home draw against Fulham.
Results of English Premier League:
Arsenal 0 Birmingham City 0
Blackburn Rovers 1 Manchester United 0
Charlton Athletic 2 Leicester City 2
Chelsea 4 Southampton 0
Manchester City 1 Newcastle United 0
Portsmouth 1 Fulham 1
Wolves 2 Everton 1
RANGERS ON TARGET
GLASGOW: Rangers warmed up for next week's final Glasgow derby of the season against Scottish champions Celtic by scoring three times in eight minutes in a 4-0 thumping of Motherwell on Saturday.
Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta netted a free kick a minute before halftime for the opener at Ibrox before his side added another three in a rousing start to the second period.
Substitute Maurice Ross added a second on 47 minutes, Hamed Namouchi scored his side's third three minutes later and Scotland striker Steven Thompson headed the fourth in the 55th.
Rangers trail Celtic by 13 points with three games to go and have already lost the title they won last season but the win will give them a boost before they visit Celtic Park next Saturday.
Alex McLeish's side must avoid defeat there to stop Celtic completing a clean sweep of wins in the "Old Firm" fixture since Rangers managed it 1963-64.
Celtic will be presented with their 39th Scottish crown after Sunday's home match with Dunfermline Athletic, who they face in the Scottish Cup final on May 22.
In Saturday's other games, Hearts won 2-0 at Dundee United, Hibernian overcame Dundee 1-0 and Kilmarnock recorded a second straight home win with a 4-2 victory against Livingston.
Relegated Partick Thistle enjoyed only their fifth win of a gloomy season, 2-0 at home against Aberdeen.
