The Sports Matrix: Monday 23 May 2011

Blackpool and Birmingham down

Blackpool and Birmingham were relegated from the Premier League yesterday. Blackpool lost 4-2 at Manchester United, despite leading 2-1 during the second half. Birmingham City lost 2-1 at Tottenham, and they too were staying up when it was 1-1. MORE

Vettel triumphs in Spanish Grand Prix

Sebastian Vettel won the Spanish Grand Prix yesterday, his fourth win in five races so far this season. Red Bull’s Vettel held off the challenge of McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton to win, but the Englishman gave him a difficult contest. Jenson Button came third. MORE

Poulter wins Match Play title

Ian Poulter won the World Match Play Championship in Spain yesterday. He beat Luke Donald 2&1 in the final, for his second Match Play title, having won in Tucson last year, and his first tournament since November. MORE

Wigan, Wolves and Blackburn stay up

Wigan beat Stoke City 1-0, thanks to Hugo Rodallega’s late goal, and stay in the Premier League. Blackburn won 3-2 at Molineux, having been 3-0 up at half-time. Wolves were in danger during the second half but Stephen Hunt’s late goal kept them up. MORE

City ease to third ahead of Arsenal

Manchester City secured third place, and qualification to the Champions League group stage, after winning 2-0 at Bolton yesterday. Joleon Lescott and Edin Dzeko scored the goals. Arsenal, City’s rivals for third, drew 2-2 at Fulham and came fourth. MORE

Morgan preferred to Bopara at six

England have chosen Eoin Morgan over Ravi Bopara to fill the vacant batting position in the first Test against Sri Lanka this week. Morgan went to the IPL, which some thought might count against him, but he scored 193 for England Lions last week. MORE

Opinion: James Lawton

Who couldn’t bleed for relegated Blackpool yesterday? Who couldn’t sigh at the reality that the great illumination show of English football, more about wit and spirit than size of payroll, was probably always doomed? MORE

Ruthless Chelsea sack Ancelotti

Chelsea sacked manager Carlo Ancelotti last night, within hours of their 1-0 defeat at Everton. Ancelotti won the double last year, in his first season in English football, but this year Chelsea finished nine points behind Manchester United in the Premier League and were knocked out of the Champions League by them. “This season’s performances have fallen short of expectations,” an official statement said, “and the club feels the time is right to make this change ahead of next season’s preparations.” Ancelotti arrived in summer 2009 after Guus Hiddink’s brief spell and won both the league and the FA Cup last season. But poor results this season have cost him his job. He was the sixth man to manage Chelsea since Roman Abramovich’s takeover in 2003, and the second after Jose Mourinho to win the Premier League at the club. Porto coach Andre Villas-Boas is the favourite to replace Ancelotti. MORE

Wilshere unlikely to be in U-21squad

Jack Wilshere is set to be left out of England’s Under-21 squad for next month’s European Championship, having told the Football Association he fears the effect playing will have on his fitness. He will be in the senior squad for next month’s Switzerland game. MORE

England Lions lose to Sri Lanka

England Lions lost to Sri Lanka by 38 runs yesterday. After following on, the tourists made 448, setting England Lions 222 to win. They were bowled out for 183, though, with Dilhara Fernando taking three wickets and Nuwan Pradeep taking four. MORE