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Sheffield United go down, West Ham stay afloat

Sheffield United were relegated from the Premier League after losing to visiting Wigan 2-1 on Sunday, and West Ham stayed in the top division by beating champions Manchester United 1-0.

With last-place Watford and Charlton already relegated to the Football League Championship, three more teams were in danger of going down in the final round of matches.

Wigan needed a victory over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane, and Paul Scharner scored in the 14th minute and David Unsworth added a penalty in the 45th.

Sheffield United got their goal from Jonathan Stead's 38th-minute diving header.

Argentina striker Carlos Tevez scored West Ham's goal in first-half injury time at Old Trafford, where the home fans were waiting for the Red Devils to collect the Premier League trophy.

Premier League runner-up Chelsea were held to a 1-1 draw by visiting Everton, hosts Liverpool drew 2-2 against relegated Charlton and Arsenal were held to a 0-0 draw at Portsmouth.

Tevez had barely touched the ball before he scored in the second minute of first-half injury time.

Collecting a header from Bobby Zamora well outside the United area, he swapped passes and ran through a tackle by Wes Brown. Tevez then sent an angled shot past United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.

United manager Alex Ferguson made a triple substitution in the 58th minute, sending on Cristiano Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes. But Hammers forward Luis Boa Morte soon hit the United post.

Ronaldo almost equalized in the 75th when he jumped to meet a corner, but his powerful header was saved by West Ham goalkeeper Rob Green.

"Whatever the circumstances, to come to Manchester United and win is fantastic," West Ham manager Alan Curbishley said. "I hope I never have to go through it again and I hope West Ham never have to go through it again."

There was more drama at Bramall Lane.

Scharner put Wigan ahead in the 14th with a low, first-time shot from a cross by Kevin Kilbane.

Stead equalized, but the Latics regained the lead in the final minute of the first half when Phil Jagielka handled a free kick and Unsworth scored from the penalty spot.

Wigan had to play the last 15 minutes with 10 men after Lee McCulloch was sent off for a second yellow card.

"It was a great achievement for us and I feel a little bit sorry for Sheffield United," Wigan manager Paul Jewell said. "It's not nice for someone to celebrate when the other team gets relegated."

"But I felt all week people were writing us off and they [Sheffield United] had it all to lose," Jewell said.

Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock was upset that Manchester United left many of its big players on the bench to rest them ahead of next week's FA Cup final against Chelsea.

"I thought Sir Alex would play a stronger team today and to see him celebrating on the pitch leaves a bitter taste," he said.
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