Winning Post
 By
DAVID THORPE
The Premiership has enjoyed one of its most exciting campaigns in many
years with Champions League spots, relegation battles and of course the
race for the title going to the penultimate weekend of the season.
Chelsea need just a point to retain their crown and should pick up what
they need from their last three games but Manchester United who lie in
second will be in no mood to roll over to the noveau-riche west Londoners
on Saturday at Stamford Bridge.
However Blackburn and Newcastle are unlikely to offer a stern test for
Jose Mourinho’s side with neither having anything tangible to play
for.
At the bottom Birmingham and West Brom look likely to join Sunderland
in the Championship next season with Portsmouth hitting form at the right
time.
For success-starved clubs such as Tottenham, West Ham and Middlesbrough
it has also been an excellent season.
Spurs took a huge step towards reaching the Champions League for the first
time thanks to Robbie Keane’s goal in their thoroughly-deserved
1-1 draw with bitter rivals Arsenal on Saturday.
The Hammers have enjoyed a great return to the top flight and will now
meet Liverpool in their first FA cup final in 26 years and Boro who went
down to Alan Pardew’s side on Sunday are one step away from a place
in their first-ever Uefa Cup final.
Premiership new boys Wigan have more than held their own and Fulham have
shown that good football and astute management still count for a lot in
the modern game.
One glaring omission from this list is a club that have won the old First
Division and FA Cup seven times, a European Cup and have not been outside
the top flight since 1987 — Aston Villa.
One of the biggest clubs in the country with a huge tradition, magnificent
stadium and massive support , they have quite simply slipped into virtual
anonymity.
The only highlight in another season of mediocrity has been completing
the double over bitter rivals Birmingham — a side who are in freefall.
This column has been critical of David O’Leary over recent years
and this is an opinion it appears is shared by most of the Villa Park
faithful
Many have never forgiven the Dubliner after his verbal attack on supporters
after they justifiably castigated the players at half-time as League Two
side Wycombe opened up a 3-0 lead in a Carling Cup match and the lack
of excitement on the field has seen their discontent fester.
Banners have been unfurled at home matches hitting back at O’Leary
and a report in last weekend’s Irish version of the Sunday Times
claimed that he had lost the respect of the players and his backroom staff
after a series of rows behind the scenes.
With the club set to be the subject of a takeover bid in the summer, the
former Leeds boss’ future is looking decidedly shaky and it would
take a brave man to bet on him being at the helm next season.
There were no Irish scorers in the Championship last weekend but in League
One Colin Larkin hit the net for Chesterfield in their 2-1 defeat by MK
Dons and Andy Keogh made it 16 for the season as Scunthorpe drew 1-1 at
Rotherham.
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