Football: Blackburn relegated from Premier League

Rovers’ 1-0 loss to Wigan ends team’s 11-year stay in top flight.

LONDON:

Blackburn Rovers were relegated from the English Premier League with a match to spare after a 1-0 defeat at home to Wigan Athletic on Monday.

In a game they had to win to prolong their 11-year stay in the top flight, Blackburn were unable to find a way through Wigan’s defence. Wigan, for whom victory secured their Premier League survival, scored through Antolin Alcaraz’s header three minutes from time.

Defeat capped a difficult season for Blackburn, whose manager Steve Kean has faced repeated calls to quit the club. Fans have also protested against the involvement of Blackburn owners’ Venky’s, an Indian-based poultry firm, in the running of the club.

“We are devastated, the players are numb,” Kean told Sky Sports. “. The lads gave us everything. It’s a massive setback but we have to regroup and keep as many of our players as we can. We’ll be back to fight another day.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 9^th, 2012.