Stiliyan Petrov leads Aston Villa on their lap of honour after their final-day clash with Wigan

Bulgarian will take up position as assistant to development coach Gordon Cowans having retired following battle with acute leukaemia

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The Sport Matrix: Tuesday 30 April 2013

Clinical Christian feeds Sunderland to the lions

Paolo Di Canio celebrates during Sunderland's victory over Newcastle in the Premier League at St James' Park

Paolo Di Canio admits he feared being sacked days after his appointment as Sunderland manager

The 44-year-old Italian's arrival on Wearside prompted a storm

Aston Villa captain Ron Vlaar

Ron Vlaar: Aston Villa must stay up to stave off job losses says captain ahead of Sunderland game

Villa captain keen to cut out the errors as Paolo Di Canio relishes another hot reception

Stoke City 1 Norwich City 0 match report: Potters safe, Tony Pulis silent, Canaries still in a flutter

The big screen at the Britannia Stadium was advertising Stoke City's end-of-season awards dinner during yesterday's match. Whoever is tasked with compiling the highlights package for that evening's entertainment will have their work cut out but at least Stoke will be able to raise a glass to another season in the top flight.

Wigan Athletic 2 Tottenham Hotspur 2 match report: Both teams lose out in game they had to win

Tottenham and Wigan rue vital missed points for a Champions' League place and survival

The sporting week ahead (28/04/13)

Today

Lukas Podolski is likely to start in place of Olivier Giroud

Robin van Persie was broody over title before saddest of Arsenal exits, says Arsène Wenger

Van Persie makes his first return to the Emirates as Podolski looks set to start in place of Giroud

Franco di Santo’s Wigan contract runs out in the summer

Premier League relegation battle: Wigan Athletic,
Aston Villa, Newcastle, Stoke City and Sunderland fight to avoid the last drop spot

Martinez still relishing the excitement of Wigan’s fight to pull off another escape act

Monday night dogfight against Sunderland is vital for Paul Lambert

Aston Villa’s manager, Paul Lambert, has warned Sunderland they are not safe yet as he looks to drag the resurgent Wearsiders back into the relegation dogfight in Monday night’s meeting at Villa Park.

Sunderland 'buy into' Paulo Di Canio vision

Captain John O’Shea says Sunderland’s players are “really buying into” new manager Paolo Di Canio’s methods as they go in search of a third win in a row at Aston Villa on Monday night.

Roberto Mancini

Roberto Mancini denies Manchester City's confidence has been knocked by United claiming title

City have lost their crown with four games to go

Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio

Sunderland aren't out of trouble yet warns Paul Lambert

Aston Villa host the Black Cats on Monday

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert pictured at Old Trafford

Paul Lambert optimistic for Aston Villa's Premier League future

The relegation threatened side lost 3-0 to Manchester United last night

Career Services

Day In a Page

James Pembroke: The man who's eaten everywhere

The man who's eaten everywhere

Few people know more about restaurants than James Pembroke, who only spent five mealtimes at home during his entire childhood.
A Berliner in 1963 – but did John F Kennedy once admire Adolf Hitler?

A Berliner in 1963 – but did John F Kennedy once admire Adolf Hitler?

The young JFK praised 'superior' Nordic races during visits to Germany
Banned Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof to attend Cannes Film Festival 2013, his first public appearance since prison

Banned Iranian director to attend Cannes Film Festival

Mohammad Rasoulof to make his first public appearance since being imprisoned three years ago
Seeing the larger picture: Inspiring images of space

Seeing the larger picture: Inspiring images of space

An exhibition explores images how photography has shaped astronomy
Eat Spam and carry on: Wartime pamphlets could teach us a thing or two about healthy, thrifty eating

Eat Spam and carry on

Wartime pamphlets could teach us a thing or two about healthy, thrifty eating
Facial hair: Cat beards and the purrrsuit of excellence

Facial hair

Cat beards and the purrrsuit of excellence
The 10 Best salt and pepper sets

The 10 Best salt and pepper sets

Whether they're for everyday use or to make your dining table look just right, it's worth getting a stylish shaker...
Ferran Soriano: Predicting success if Manchester City 'vision' is followed

Ferran Soriano: Predicting success if Manchester City 'vision' is followed

Chief executive says trophies will come if a 'core' of suitable players is in place
Thomas Müller: We couldn't handle losing a Champions League Final again

Thomas Müller: We couldn't handle losing a Champions League Final again

The Bayern Munich forward tells Tim Rich his side have to shed chokers' tag after two recent final defeats
Giro d'Italia: The Stelvio Pass - cycling's killer climb

The Stelvio Pass - cycling's killer climb

As the Giro d'Italia tackles the brutal climb, Simon Usborne takes on the snow and switchbacks – and soon realises what the fuss is about
National archives: Edward VIII’s phone calls - and how MI5 bugged them

Edward VIII’s phone calls - and how MI5 bugged them

Newly unearthed papers reveal a shocking extra dimension to the constitutional crisis over monarch’s abdication
Sent down at the Old Bailey: A tour of the world's most famous court

Sent down at the Old Bailey

A tour of the world's most famous court
Hollywood's random acts of red-carpet kindness

Hollywood's random acts of red-carpet kindness

The Hangover actor Zach Galifianakis’s date for his movie premieres isn’t arm candy  – it’s his 87-year-old friend who he saved from homelessness
British football scores an own goal

British football scores an own goal

Many managers barely survive a year in post. Martin Baker talks to experts who make a case for clubs using forensic business skills to find the best staff
James Lawton: Sergio Garcia cracks as major fault line opens up again

James Lawton

Sergio Garcia cracks as major fault line opens up again