Talk of conspiracy theories during the week spoke of the variety of ways that both Sheffield United and Wigan could engineer a result that would see them both in the Premiership next season. However the key to the success of any conspiracy relied on Manchester United beating West Ham United.

The visitors were a goal up within fifteen minutes, Paul Scharner’s left foot putting Wigan on the road to safety. The blades wanted to make that road as long and hard as possible. They got back in the game just before half time when Jon Stead showed the desire needed if United were to stay up, as he put his head in to the mix to score the equaliser.

There was to a twist, a killer blow for the Blades as their captain Phil Jagielka handled the ball in the box. Up stepped former Blade David Unsworth to take the spot-kick. A sigh of relief was breathed the United faithful as they recalled his penalty miss for them earlier in the season. However he was about to send his old club back to the Coca-Cola Championship as he placed the ball just outside the reach of Paddy Kenny. In the closing stages of the game Wigan striker Lee McCullough was sent off for a second yellow card but his team held on to the win to stay in the Premiership.

Neil Warnock’s press conferences will be missed in the Premiership next season. The Tevez debate will drag on over the close season, however there will be no changing the punishment that the Premier League have handed out.