The Sports Matrix: Tuesday 8 May 2012

Dunfermline relegated from SPL

Dunfermline were last night relegated from the Scottish Premier League after being thrashed 4-0 at Hibernian. The result secured Hibs' top-flight status. Dunfermline were three goals down in just 15 minutes in the rout at Easter Road.

West Ham close to top-flight return

West Ham are one match away from an instant return to the Premier League after they beat Cardiff City 3-0 (5-0 on aggregate) in the play-off semi-final at home. They will face either Blackpool or Birmingham in the play-off final at Wembley on 19 May. MORE

Hazard deal off, Belhanda deal on

With a deal for Lille's Eden Hazard proving more difficult than first anticipated, Manchester City have identified Montpellier's £7m-rated 22-year-old Younes Belhanda as a back-up target. The playmaker has scored 12 league goals this season. MORE

Fine season earns McClean Euro call

The Sunderland winger James McClean has been included in Giovanni Trapattoni's 23-man Republic of Ireland Euro 2012 squad. The call-up is a reward for 23-year-old's great form for the Black Cats this season. He has one previous cap. MORE

Youngquest treble downs Widnes

The full-back Nick Youngquest scored a superb hat-trick of tries for Castleford yesterday as they defeated fellow strugglers Widnes 36-12. In total, Castleford ran in seven tries in at the PROBIZ Coliseum against the bottom of the Super League club. MORE

Brazil give out free World Cup tickets

The Brazilian Government will hand out free tickets to the country's poor and indigenous people for the 2014 World Cup finals and expects to do the same for the 2016 Rio Olympics. The host nation will also sell students and pensioners half-price tickets. MORE

Ronnie rockets to fourth world title

Ronnie O'Sullivan clinched his fourth World Championship title last night, beating Ali Carter 18-11. O'Sullivan said he is now going to take six months off before deciding on his future: "I am going to enjoy my time off with my family and then assess the situation." MORE

Cavendish angry over crash finish

A spectacular last-kilometre crash in the Giro d'Italia yesterday left Mark Cavendish finishing the stage battered and bleeding. He later hit out on Twitter, saying rider Roberto Ferrari should be "ashamed" of himself for causing the pile-up. MORE

Opinion:James Lawton

When does Sir Alex Ferguson stop to hold up his hands and say it is time for the smelling of the flowers? It is the question that some say Ferguson, aged 70, will never face, let alone answer. MORE