UEFA Cup relief for Newcastle

Newcastle United FC pipped Aston Villa FC to the English Premiership's remaining UEFA Cup berth as Arsenal FC made history by negotiating the 38-game season unbeaten.

United win
Villa led Newcastle by one point at kick-off as both teams sought to finish fifth, and join FA Cup finalists Millwall FC and League Cup winners Middlesbrough FC in Europe. But Villa fell 2-0 down at home to Manchester United FC within ten minutes as Cristiano Ronaldo and Ruud van Nistelrooij scored. Darren Fletcher and Ronaldo were both dismissed late on, but third-placed United held on to gain a boost before next Saturday's cup final against Millwall.

Newcastle relief
A point would have been good enough for Newcastle at Liverpool FC to pip Villa and they took a 25th-minute lead through Shola Ameobi. Michael Owen equalised 24 minutes from the end for Liverpool, who confirmed their place in the fourth UEFA Champions League berth with the 1-1 draw.

Arsenal feat
Champions Arsenal have become the first team to go through an English top-flight campaign without defeat since Preston North End FC survived 22 games unbeaten in the inaugural Football League season on 1888/89. Relegated Leicester City FC threatened a shock when they led at half-time through a Paul Dickov goal, but within seconds of the re-start Thierry Henry converted a penalty and Patrick Vieira secured a 2-1 win in the 66th minute.

Leeds farewell
Runners-up Chelsea FC ended Leeds United AFC's spell in the Premiership with a 1-0 defeat as Jesper Grønkjær headed the winner. Leeds's demise leaves Arsenal, United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Villa, Southampton FC, Tottenham Hotspur FC and Everton FC as the only sides to play in every Premiership since its 1992 foundation.

Wolves slump
Leeds were spared bottom place on goals scored by Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, whose one-season Premiership spell ended with a 2-0 loss against Tottenham. Charlton Athletic FC ended seventh by beating Southampton FC 2-1 for their best Premiership finish, a feat matched by eighth-placed Bolton Wanderers and the side that beat them 2-0 to finish ninth, Fulham FC.

Portsmouth joy
Portsmouth FC, whose manager Harry Redknapp was confirmed in charge on Friday, beat Middlesbrough 5-1 with four Yakubu Ayegbeni goals and another from Teddy Sheringham on his final game for the club. Manchester City FC won by the same score against Everton FC, while Birmingham City FC ended in the top half after drawing 1-1 with Blackburn.