BLACKBURN, England, May 3, (AFP): Blackburn Rovers came from behind to beat Arsenal 2-1 at Ewood Park on Monday and leave third place in the English Premier League up for grabs.
David Dunn cancelled out Robin van Persie’s opener before Christopher Samba scored the winner to stun the visitors.
A win for Arsenal would have confirmed third place in the Premier League and direct qualification for the Champions League group stage.
But bitter north London rivals Tottenham can now move to two points behind them if they win at Manchester City on Wednesday, meaning Spurs could pinch third place should they win and Arsenal lose in Sunday’s final round of matches. The win saw Blackburn overtake Fulham, Sunderland and Stoke and move into 10th place in the table. Netherlands striker van Persie put Arsenal ahead in the 13th minute with his first goal since October 31 following his five-month ankle injury lay-off. Midfielder Dunn levelled in the 44th minute with a tap-in at the far post as the Gunners failed to deal with a Rovers corner.
Congolese centre-back Samba scored the winner with a 68th-minute header.
Hull City were officially relegated from the English Premier League on Monday as hosts Wigan Athletic secured a 2-2 draw with a dramatic injury-time equaliser at the DW Stadium.
Latics defender Steve Gohouri scored the crucial last-ditch goal that confirmed the Tigers’ relegation to the Championship. Hull went into the clash knowing that only a first away win of the season would keep them mathematically in the top flight. But survival was practically impossible given their huge goal difference deficit compared to West Ham, the only team they could have drawn level with on points.
They join Burnley and Portsmouth in the Championship next year, the Clarets and Pompey having already been relegated.
Hull’s first foray into English football’s top flight lasted two seasons. Wigan’s 19-year-old striker Victor Moses scored his first goal for the club with a 30th-minute shot.
Hull debutant Will Atkinson equalised in the 42nd minute with a header and striker Mark Cullen, making only his third appearance, nodded them ahead in the 64th minute with his first senior goal. But Gohouri, being watched by his Ivory Coast manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, levelled three minutes into injury time with a spectacular overhead kick for his first Tigers goal.
“That is the nature of this harsh league,” Hull manager Iain Dowie said. “I’m very proud of the display, I thought it was absolutely outstanding and that we deserved more than we got.
“We haven’t won but we might well have done. We have scored two goals away from home for the second time since I have been here and unfortunately we have only got one point from it, which is the galling side.”
Wigan boss Roberto Martinez said: “It is one of those performances which leaves you with mixed feelings because we knew that we had to take control of the game and break Hull down.
“They were well-organised and working hard and I thought for spells, we showed very good moments.
“But then what we don’t lack is that character and desire to carry on doing the right things until the end. I thought the second goal was the reward the players deserved.”
With Wigan safe and Hull de facto already down, both clubs took the opportunity to try out some fresh faces.
Martinez made four changes, with Moses among those drafted in. Meanwhile Dowie brought in three youngsters, including Atkinson and Cullen.
Wigan had the better of the opening exchanges and their pressure paid off when Moses broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark.