Sheffield United Relegated on Final Day of the Season

Sheffield United have been relegated from the Premier League on goal difference after they lost 2-1 at home to Wigan Athletic and Carlos Tevez helped West Ham beat Manchester United 1-0.

Sheffield United finished the season in 18th place with a goal difference of -23, a single goal worse than Wigan, to join already relegated Charlton Athletic and Watford in the Championship.

David Unsworth's penalty in first-half injury-time secured Wigan's dramatic escape. The veteran defender, a free transfer from Bramall Lane in January, was only on the pitch because of injury to Ryan Taylor but when Phil Jagielka handballed the 33-year-old coolly drilled home to give his side a crucial 2-1 lead.

Paul Jewell's side had taken a 14th-minute lead through Paul Scharner's left-foot volley but Jon Stead's header eight minutes before the interval put United in pole position to survive. However, in a relegation race full of controversy following West Ham's escape with a £5.5m fine for irregularities over the signings of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano there were a few more twists left and it was the Blades who suffered the deepest cut.

Substitute Danny Webber hit a post having beaten goalkeeper Mike Pollitt in the second half and even the dismissal of Lee McCulloch for a second bookable offence in the 73rd minute could not save Neil Warnock's side.

Jewell, who was palpably under pressure as he argued with officials during five minutes of injury-time, was proud of his players. "We played well, it was backs-to-the-wall stuff," he said. "We defended manfully - something we haven't always done this season.

"I always thought there'd be some twists and turns and it's an amazing achievement. We've shown everyone, the so-called experts. I've forgotten more about football than they've ever known."

Meanwhile West Ham manager Alan Curbishley hailed his "fantastic" Hammers after they escaped relegation on the last day of the season. "Let's be fair about it, whatever the circumstances - to come to Manchester United and win - fantastic," he said. "I hope I never have to go through it again and I hope West Ham never have to go through it again. We've been saying ever since I've been here, there was ability in the team."