..::Football III::..

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Good Luck Manchester United!

meh season 1ke anthima match 1kath win karamu kohomahari

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Half Time

Hull City 0 Vs 0 Manchester United

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1st Half thanikarama attack 1ka thibbe Hull City laga nehManchester United attack 1kak atthema naha
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Full Time

Hull City 0 Vs 0 Manchester United

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Congratulations Manchester United!

& Good luck for the next season
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Luis Enrique: This is the best Real Madrid for years - and we were better

Luis Enrique says Barcelona's Liga success is even more impressive as it arrived in spite of the best Real Madrid team in recent years.

Barca celebrated their title triumph on Saturday, ending the league season two points clear of Madrid despite a 2-2 draw at home to Deportivo La Coruna on the final day.While his team may yet add the Champions League and Copa del Rey titles to their collection, Luis Enrique says the domestic crown is particularly special.

"It is the trophy that demonstrates what we have done during the whole season," he said."One cannot win a league without being the most regular - in our case, with great numbers and showing a great level during the whole year.

"Obviously there have been good and bad moments - it can't be any other way - but you can't say it's been a normal season when you win the league.

"We have had a really good season, even better when you think that this has been the best Real Madrid of the last few years, and they have fought for the league until the penultimate week, always making things difficult for us."And that's maybe why we value it even more."

Barca still have two matches to go to finish the campaign, with the Copa final against Athletic Bilbao on May 30 to be followed by the Champions League showdown with Juventus on June 6.A second treble at Camp Nou is on the cards, but Luis Enrique understands the difficulty of the challenges that lie ahead.

"For sure, we have the same feeling that Athletic and Juventus players have," he said.

"The reality is that they are going to be two really difficult matches in which the supporters are going to be really important."And we are going to try to conquer two more titles for the club. Two more titles for the players and the supporters, and that's the goal.

"But we can't forget that this [the treble] is something the club has only managed once in all its history, meaning that this is a difficult task to achieve."

 

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PSG will keep winning trophies, vows Thiago Silva

Paris Saint-Germain captain Thiago Silva has vowed the club will continue to win titles.

The French champions celebrated their third consecutive Ligue 1 triumph on Saturday to follow up their Coupe de la Ligue and Trophee des Champions wins earlier this term.

Laurent Blanc's men finished the league season with a 3-2 win over Reims as Edinson Cavani netted a double, as PSG became the first side to go unbeaten at home during a whole Ligue 1 season since Bordeaux in 2008-09.After finishing eight points clear of Lyon, PSG are now turning their attentions to the Coupe de France final against Auxerre on May 30.

"This season will remain with me for the rest of my career," captain Thiago Silva said.

"We have won three trophies and we have one week left to finish on a high. If we continue with this mentality, we will keep on winning."Midfielder Blaise Matuidi added: "We have enjoyed an exceptional season. We want to win four trophies."

 

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Inzaghi: I’m here until AC Milan tell me to stop

Filippo Inzaghi says has no intention of leaving AC Milan and hopes to see out the remaining year of his contact.

Speculation that the 41-year-old is set to be relieved of his duties intensified this week as president Silvio Berlusconi revealed the club are ready to welcome back current Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti.

But Inzaghi says he is ignoring reports regarding his possible replacement and still believes he is the man to lead the club forward."I have a contract for another year and, until I am told otherwise, I will continue," he told a press conference.

"I have given it everything I have. I've been talking to the President for nine months. Often we agree on issues, sometimes we don’t, but he always allowed me to work.

"I will continue my work, then the club will tell me what is going to happen. Ancelotti is a great coach and we often talk, but until I am told something else, I'll carry on."Milan sit 11th in Serie A with two matches remaining and will miss out on European football next season, but Inzaghi is confident he can lead the club back to the top of Italian football.

"The foundations are there and the situation is not all that bad. We have to do a lot to get back to a certain level, but the ingredients are in place to achieve it," he said.
"CEO Adriano Galliani and the president know my ideas on how to become great again. I hope they’ll give me the chance to bring Milan back where it belongs."
Milan host Torino on Sunday hoping to secure what would be just their second victory in their last eight league outings.Ancelotti, meanwhile, has claimed he would take a year out of coaching should he leave Real Madrid this summer.

 

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James: Bad luck to blame for Madrid's failure

James Rodriguez believes that bad luck and injuries were to blame for Real Madrid's disappointing season.

Los Blancos enjoyed a sensational first half to the 2014-15 campaign, with a club-record 22-game winning streak in all competitions culminating in Club World Cup glory in December.

However, Madrid's form dipped after the winter break, allowing Barcelona to overhaul them at the top of La Liga, while they ultimately saw their Champions League defence ended at the semi-final stage by Juventus.

James, who hit 13 goals and racked up 13 assists in his debut campaign in La Liga following last summer's move from Monaco, believes that Carlo Ancelotti's men were derailed by the loss of key players such as Luca Modric to injury.

"I’m happy with my first year," the attacking midfielder is quoted as saying by his club's official website.

"I wanted trophies too, and we were close in La Liga and the Champions League, but I think that luck wasn’t on our side."Next season we’re going to win things and on an individual level I want to do better.

“Between January and March a lot of players were ruled out, but we have to learn from everything for next season and do better."I like to learn day in, day out, I have ambition and I want to have room for growth and to always keep moving on an upward path."

Madrid captain Iker Casillas became something of a scapegoat for the team's failings this year and James admitted that he was upset by how the goalkeeper was regularly targeted by the Santiago Bernabeu's boo boys.

"Iker is an emblematic player for the club and he has to be treated with a lot of respect because he has brought many trophies," the Colombia international added.

 

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Manchester City 2-0 Southampton: Lampard on target on his Premier League farewell

Frank Lampard marked his final Premier League appearance in typical fashion as the former Chelsea ace scored in Manchester City's 2-0 defeat of Southampton, whose bid for European football is now reliant on others.

Lampard joined City in August, despite having previously agreed a move to sister club New York City to seemingly bring his Premier League days to a halt, but the 36-year-old has continued to be an asset and he brought his era to a fitting close by netting on Sunday.

Yaya Toure and James Milner, both of whom have been strongly linked with summer moves, also lined up for potentially their final games for City, though ultimately it was Lampard – wearing the captain's armband – who made the biggest difference.

Sergio Aguero wasted several opportunities but netted his 26th of the season late on, capping a campaign that sees him win the Premier League golden boot.

Southampton improved after the break, but Manuel Pellegrini's men held firm to give Lampard a happy send-off, while the visitors' bid for a Europa League place now rests on Arsenal beating Aston Villa in the FA Cup final.

Despite what has ultimately proved to be a disappointing season for City after the surrendering of their Premier League crown, a fine atmosphere greeted the deposed champions for their final contest of the season.

The chances eventually began to flow, and in the 24th minute Kelvin Davis was forced to spare his own blushes, denying Aguero from point-blank range after initially dropping a tame effort at the Argentina striker's feet.

But the breakthrough finally arrived in the 31st minute, Lampard marking an emotional day in fitting style when he met Milner's low cross with an emphatic first-time effort following a trademark late run into the area.
Aguero should have added to the score shortly after, though Davis did well to thwart the striker when one-on-one.

The goalkeeper was tested again in the 37th minute, palming wide after a ricochet off Toby Alderweireld looked set to find the top-right corner.

The contest opened up early in the second half with Southampton pouring forward and causing Eliaquim Mangala and company at the back plenty of problems.

But the visitors were continuously caught offside, with Graziano Pelle twice guilty of not holding his run when fine opportunities looked set to present themselves.

Southampton finally tested Joe Hart with a legitimate shot on goal but Shane Long's feeble first-time effort from 25 yards rolled along the ground and gave the England international an easy task.

The biggest cheers of the half were reserved for Lampard, Toure and Milner, as the midfield trio milked thunderous applauses in the final 25 minutes as they were substituted.

And the celebratory mood was rounded off with the visitors pushing on and leaving themselves open at the back, allowing City to capitalise through Aguero, who added a second with a close-range header two minutes from time.

 

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Lampard geth final EPL match 1ka thamai play karala thiyennehabai play karapu 1 year elatama play kala​

 

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Chelsea 3-1 Sunderland: Remy double helps champions end on a high

Chelsea sealed a victorious end to their title-winning campaign as two goals from Loic Remy helped them see off Sunderland 3-1 at Stamford Bridge.

The France international came off the bench to secure all three points to the delight of a packed home crowd, Remy converting his first after a superb run from Eden Hazard and adding a second in the closing minutes.

Chelsea had fallen behind in the first half as Steven Fletcher netted his first league goal since November, but Diego Costa cancelled that out from the spot.

Both goals came either side of a poignant moment after 28 minutes, as Didier Drogba - who announced before kick-off he was leaving the club for a second time at the end of the season - was carried from the pitch by the Chelsea players, having been substituted by Jose Mourinho.

Remy could have had his name on the scoresheet much earlier, but he spurned two excellent chances before finally accepting the third to register his sixth of the campaign.

His second strike signalled time for the party to start, as Chelsea rolled out the flicks and tricks to bring the curtain down on a successful season.

With a celebratory mood inside Stamford Bridge, the champions – who made six changes – were quickly into their stride and they would have been ahead inside five minutes had Drogba converted Willian's low cross.

They did not have it all their own way early on, though, as Sunderland played some nice football on the counterattack - Seb Larsson stretching Petr Cech with a curling effort from 20 yards.

Vito Mannone in the Sunderland goal also needed to be alert when Branislav Ivanovic tested him with a rasping drive two minutes later, but the opening goal was not far away.

As the half-hour approached, Chelsea failed to deal with a right-wing corner, the ball bounced inside the six-yard box and Fletcher made no mistake at the back post.

The game then had a surreal moment, as Drogba's final Chelsea appearance came to an early end. He was replaced by Costa, with his team-mates opting to carry the veteran from the pitch to a standing ovation that included Sunderland players and the referee.

It did not take Costa long to make an impact, as he brought Chelsea level from the penalty spot after 36 minutes. The Spain international converted from 12 yards after Juan Cuadrado had been felled by John O'Shea.

Remy – introduced for the injured Cuadrado – twice went close to giving the hosts the lead after the restart, the forward just lacking the final touch after superb build-up play.

However, Sunderland were not prepared to sit back and allow them to finish with a flourish, and they were denied chances of their own around the hour mark.

Jermain Defoe saw a scuffed volley cleared off the line by John Terry after 59 minutes, and Fletcher was unable to steer his header on target at the back post four minutes later.

And the visitors were made to rue those misses as Chelsea sealed all three points with 20 minutes to play, Remy finally finding his shooting boots to beat Mannone from the edge of the penalty area.

Remy added a third late on with a deft finish from close range as the champions rounded off the campaign in fitting fashion.

 

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Newcastle 2-0 West Ham: Jonas & Sissoko secure Premier League survival

Jonas Gutierrez and Moussa Sissoko scored to ensure Newcastle's Premier League survival in a 2-0 victory over West Ham at an emotionally charged St James' Park.

Newcastle went into the game knowing a defeat or a draw at St James' Park and a victory for Hull City over Manchester United would see them relegated to the Championship.

But Sissoko's emphatic header and a deflected strike from Jonas late on guaranteed their safety regardless of results elsewhere.

Newcastle head coach John Carver said it would be unthinkable to take his hometown club into the second tier and he was able to savour a victory in what may be his last game in charge.

Unpopular owner Mike Ashley broke his silence before the game to vow that the club is not for sale at any price and he is going nowhere until Newcastle win a trophy, but was giving nothing away over who will be manager next season.

While Carver's tumultuous reign looks set to come to an end, former Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce has taken charge of West Ham for the final time as the club have confirmed he will not be offered a new deal.

Newcastle's leading scorer Papiss Cisse made his first start since early March, while Mike Williamson and Vurnon Anita were also recalled as Ayoze Perez, Ryan Taylor and Remy Cabella dropped to the bench.

Allardyce made two changes to his starting line-up, with former Newcastle captain Kevin Nolan and Reece Burke replacing the injured Mark Noble and James Collins.

ewcastle made an encouraging start and Emmanuel Riviere was presented with a great chance to put them in front inside a minute, but snatched at his shot from close range.

Enner Valencia wanted a penalty when he went down in the area moments later, but Williamson did not appear to make any contact and referee Martin Atkinson waved play on.

Riviere acrobatically volleyed into the side-netting and Daryl Janmaat dragged a strike wide of the far post as Newcastle attempted to ease the tension.

Newcastle's hearts were in their mouths when Stewart Downing raced into the penalty area 23 minutes in, but Tim Krul denied the winger what would have been a controversial goal given he was marginally offside.

The home supporters becoming increasingly edgy as their side failed to open the scoring in a frantic first half, but knew Hull were also being held by United.

Riviere had another golden opportunity to make himself a hero five minutes into the second half, but somehow failed to make contact with Janmaat's cross from around six yards out.

St James' Park erupted just four minutes later, though, when Sissoko met Gutierrez's fine cross from the left with a downward header to put Newcastle in front.

Gutierrez then raised the roof by unleashing a strike that deflected beyond Adrian and celebrated in style as Newcastle ended the season on a high note.

 

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Stoke City 6-1 Liverpool: Gerrard's final game ends in embarrassing defeat

Steven Gerrard scored in his final Liverpool game, but the occasion ended in embarrassment as Stoke City romped to a 6-1 victory on the last day of the Premier League season.

The captain's Anfield farewell last week finished in an anti-climactic 3-1 loss to Crystal Palace, but the manner of this reverse at the Britannia Stadium was much more concerning as Stoke took a 5-0 lead into half-time.

Brendan Rodgers said earlier this week he was "150 per cent" sure he would stay on as Liverpool manager next season, and he opted to leave Raheem Sterling as an unused substitute as speculation continues to mount about the 20-year-old's future at the club.

Sterling and Rodgers looked on helplessly in the opening period as Mame Biram Diouf put Stoke 2-0 up, before Jonathan Walters made it three inside 30 minutes.

Former Liverpool man Charlie Adam then pounced on Lucas Leiva's hesitancy to net the fourth, and Steven N'Zonzi added a spectacular fifth on the stroke of half-time.

With goalmouth action less frequent in the second period, Gerrard had his say with 20 minutes to go, slotting a cool finish beyond Asmir Begovic, before the entire stadium rose to applaud him.

But it was another ex-Liverpool player who rounded off the scoring, as Peter Crouch nodded in Stoke's sixth late on to cap a dismal day for Gerrard and Rodgers.

Adam - perhaps fortunate to only be booked for a high challenge on Martin Skrtel in the eighth minute - was involved in the opening goal midway through the half when his shot was parried by Simon Mignolet into the path of Diouf, who had the simple task of tapping home from close range.

The Senegalese forward had much more to do for his second goal four minutes later - picking up the ball from Marko Arnautovic on the edge of the box and hammering a powerful shot beyond Mignolet.

Things then went from bad to worse for the visitors as they conceded a third on the half-hour.

Emre Can inexplicably headed Adam's cross back towards his own goal and although Mignolet produced a fine save to deny Walters at the first attempt, the Stoke man was quick to nod in the rebound.

With four minutes still to go until half-time, Liverpool contributed to their own downfall once more as Adam robbed Lucas and drove a low shot into the bottom right-hand corner from the edge of the area.

Rodgers' side were in disarray, and as they backed off N'Zonzi, the Frenchman took full advantage by curling a superb finish into the top-right corner from 25 yards.

Liverpool brought on Jordon Ibe and Kolo Toure at the start of the second half, and Rickie Lambert's introduction ensured Sterling would not feature.

Lambert's first contribution was to flick the ball on for Gerrard, who took advantage of Marc Muniesa pulling up injured to run on and shoot low past Begovic before being afforded a standing ovation from all inside the Britannia.

Gerrard's goal was not to be the final say, however, as with four minutes remaining substitute Crouch rose unchallenged to head home from six yards and round off a miserable farewell for the Liverpool captain.

 

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Liverpool chater kamak kalane Stoke lagen​

 

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Arsenal 4-1 West Brom: Walcott & Wilshere help Gunners secure third place

Theo Walcott's first-half hat-trick and a stunning strike from Jack Wilshere inspired Arsenal to a comprehensive 4-1 win over West Brom, ensuring a third-placed finish in the Premier League.

Arsene Wenger's men headed into Sunday's season-ending contest needing a draw to be certain of holding off Manchester United and booking a direct route to the Champions League group stages.

But any notion that Arsenal would settle for anything less than maximum points was eradicated by a three-goal blitz in the first 17 minutes at the Emirates Stadium.

Walcott, one of three changes to the hosts' starting XI, opened the scoring with a sweetly struck shot across Boaz Myhill, before the England international finished a well-worked move to make it 2-0.

The pick of the bunch came from Wilshere, though, as he celebrated his 100th Premier League appearance with a sensational half-volley that left Myhill a mere bystander.

Worse was to come before the break for West Brom as Walcott, playing in his favoured striker position, tapped in his third and Arsenal's fourth.

West Brom, brilliant in Monday's 3-0 win over Chelsea, grabbed a second-half consolation through Gareth McAuley - but it did little to derail Arsenal, who will now prepare for next week's FA Cup final against Aston Villa.

Arsenal's rout started in the fourth minute as Walcott broke the deadlock in fine fashion.

The England international collected Santi Cazorla's pass on the right of the area before smashing an unstoppable drive that clipped the crossbar on the way in.

Walcott was celebrating again in the 14th minute. Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil combined well and the ball fell kindly for the forward, who took a neat touch before poking past Myhill.

The best was to come three minutes later for Arsenal, though.

West Brom only partially cleared a corner and Wilshere hit a spectacular first-time strike from 20 yards that cannoned into the top right-hand corner.

Arsenal continued to pepper the West Brom goal and a deserved fourth arrived in the 38th minute.

This time superb play from Wilshere and Cazorla led to the latter sliding a pass across the six-yard box that Walcott tapped in at the back post.

Myhill did well to palm away a bending Cazorla effort and keep the score down after the break, while West Brom substitute Victor Anichebe saw a rare shot tipped wide by David Ospina.

And from the resulting corner McAuley headed home Chris Brunt's corner with Ospina stranded.

Wenger threw on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - back after two months out with a groin injury - and Aaron Ramsey in the closing stages, with the latter left exasperated after twice being denied by the woodwork.

Craig Gardner also hit the crossbar for West Brom late on, but Arsenal had done more than enough to travel to Wembley for the FA Cup final in high spirits.

 

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Crystal Palace 1-0 Swansea City: Chamakh secures top 10 finish for Pardew's Eagles‏

A solitary goal from Marouane Chamakh secured a 1-0 win for Crystal Palace against Swansea as the Eagles secured a top-10 Premier League finish.

The Moroccan scored Palace's first home goal of the campaign in a 3-1 defeat to West Ham in August, but had failed to find the net in the top flight since.

Chamakh, though, proved the difference between the sides on Sunday, converting a close-range effort after 57 minutes to move Palace to a final tally of 48 points – their record for a 38-game Premier League season - and a top-10 finish.

The 31-year-old did not last long after finding the net, though, as he pulled up with a hamstring problem seven minutes later.

Swansea's threat was limited throughout, but Garry Monk can reflect on his own record-breaking first full season in charge at the Liberty Stadium.

The visitors were boosted by the early return of Kyle Naughton from an ankle injury – one of four changes as Monk rested the likes of captain Ashley Williams and Gylfi Sigurdsson – while Wilfried Zaha was rewarded for his goal in a 3-1 win at Liverpool last weekend as one of three additions to the Palace starting XI.

And it was the former Manchester United attacker who caused the early threat but his close-range shot was charged down by ex-Palace loanee Jazz Richards, which afforded goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski a comfortable save.

Jack Cork stuck his neck out to force Wayne Hennessey into a save at his near post from a corner, although it was Palace who continued to look most likely to break the deadlock – Zaha again sending a weak effort on target before Swansea scrambled away when a Yannick Bolasie drive proved too hot for Fabianski to handle.

Bolasie tried his luck again 10 minutes from the interval, but his 20-yard strike drifted over via the head of Federico Fernandez.

Hennessey got his body behind the ball to keep out a Marvin Emnes effort at the beginning of the second period, while Glenn Murray – a first-half replacement for James McArthur – failed to really test Fabianski with a header at the other end.

But Chamakh had the Pole beaten three minutes from the hour mark as Palace converted a set-piece opportunity.

The former Arsenal frontman controlled well from Scott Dann's header across the box to poke home after shaking off marker Bafetimbi Gomis.

That proved to be Chamakh's last contribution before being forced from the field through injury, although Zaha and Jason Puncheon both went close to adding to their stricken colleague's opener, Fabianski showing strong hands to deny the latter.

Monk introduced youngster Kenji Gorre for a Swansea debut late on, but the Dutchman was unable to spark a turnaround for the visitors, although the Welshmen can still look back at a season of success, having finished eighth, their highest Premier League placing.

 

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Leicester 5-1 QPR: Foxes thrash Ramsey’s relegated Rs

Leicester City continued their fine end to the season with an emphatic 5-1 win over QPR that sees Chris Ramsey's already-relegated side finish bottom of the Premier League table.

Jamie Vardy marked his call-up to the England squad with a first-half goal, reacting first to Riyad Mahrez's parried effort after 16 minutes, applying a calm finish for his fifth goal of the season.

Matt Phillips came close for the visitors when he fired wide midway through the first half, but Marc Albrighton's fizzing drive just before the break doubled Leicester's lead.

Leonardo Ulloa added a third at the beginning of the second half by getting a touch to Wes Morgan's effort from close range, before Esteban Cambiasso produced a clinical finish a minute later.

Vardy's fellow England newcomer Charlie Austin headed home a consolation just before the hour in what could be his last appearance for the Londoners, with speculation continuing to surround the striker's future.

But Nigel Pearson's side dished out further punishment in the closing stages, with Andrej Kramaric netting as Leicester broke the 40-point mark in the Premier League for the first time since 2001.

A celebratory sell-out crowd at the Kingpower Stadium were nearly given something to cheer within the first minute as Ulloa shook off his man inside the box before bending an effort wide.

An unchanged home side continued to dictate much of the early exchanges, but were nearly caught out when Joey Barton curled a speculative free-kick just over from distance on 11 minutes.

And Leicester took the lead four minutes later when Mahrez's shot was parried by Alex McCarthy straight into the path of an unmarked Vardy, who coolly slotted home.

Austin saw an effort well blocked by Robert Huth as QPR looked for a response, before Phillips fired marginally wide with a 25-yard drive after 36 minutes.

But the hosts ended the half two goals to the good when a bursting run into the box allowed Albrighton to latch onto Jeffrey Schlupp's cross and lash into the net.

Leicester continued their momentum after the break and extended their lead just five minutes into the second half when Ulloa produced a decisive touch to guide Morgan's goal-bound effort home.

The home faithful waited just 60 seconds for a fourth, as Cambiasso pounced on Richard Dunne's poor clearance to drill past the despairing McCarthy.

An Austin header from Barton's pinpoint cross provided a consolation for Ramsey's charges, but Leicester would go on to have the final say.

Vardy was substituted after 65 minutes to a standing ovation from the home faithful, but Leicester refused to rest on their laurels, with Cambiasso heading just wide after another Albrighton cross.

And Kramaric put the seal on a stunning end to the campaign for Leicester, latching onto Ulloa's flick-on before confidently finding the net to compound QPR's misery.

 

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Hull 0-0 Manchester United: Tigers relegated as shocking Fellaini sees red

Hull City were relegated from the Premier League after drawing 0-0 with 10-man Manchester United at the KC Stadium on the final day of the season.

Steve Bruce knew he needed to oversee a first victory over United in his managerial career if Hull were to have any chance of escaping the drop at Newcastle United's expense - as they did in 2009.

Newcastle's 2-0 victory over West Ham ultimately ensured even a win would not have been enough for Hull, who were unable to find a breakthrough on Sunday despite United substitute Marouane Fellaini's 77th-minute sending-off.
Fellaini received a straight red card for a studs-up challenge on Paul McShane, but there was still no way through for Bruce's men - FA Cup finalists 12 months ago in their first season back in the top flight.

Hull - who had seen two goals disallowed for offside in quick succession during the first half - will now return to the Championship, having lost half of their Premier League games this term.

United, meanwhile, end their maiden campaign under Louis van Gaal fourth, albeit 17 points behind champions Chelsea, and another close-season of heavy investment appears likely as the Old Trafford club aim to become genuine title contenders once again.

An unchanged Hull started brightly and Dame N'Doye forced a routine second-minute save from Victor Valdes, making his first start in goal for United having replaced the injured David de Gea against Arsenal last weekend.

A swift response from United, who were without Radamel Falcao through injury, saw Wayne Rooney graze the crossbar from 20 yards, but Hull continued to look the more threatening early on and saw two goals ruled out in quick succession.McShane was correctly adjudged offside as he poked the ball home from close range in the 18th minute after Valdes had spilled a free-kick.

Valdes then made a stunning save, diving to his left to keep out a firm header from Ahmed Elmohamady, before Hull were again denied by the assistant referee's flag when N'Doye turned home a goalbound shot from Stephen Quinn.

The remainder of the first half passed by with little incident, aside from the injury-enforced withdrawal of Angel di Maria, before United's Ander Herrera spurned a chance to convert an Ashley Young cross in stoppage time.

Herrera and Hull's David Meyler wasted opportunities early in the second period and, as news of Newcastle opening the scoring against West Ham filtered through, the hosts were left facing an increasingly desperate situation.

After another effort from Herrera had drifted narrowly wide on the hour, Hull almost capitalised on a goalmouth scramble sparked by another error from Valdes - who missed the ball when attempting to clear a corner and instead made contact with Rooney's head.

To his credit, Valdes responded with a second superb stop in the 73rd minute, as he showed outstanding reactions at his near post to claw away a shot from Nikica Jelavic.

Hull substitute Abel Hernandez was fortunate not to be sent off for punching Phil Jones in the stomach prior to Fellaini's dismissal, but the knockout blow was delivered when Newcastle scored their second at St James' Park to end Hull's stay in the Premier League.

 

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Everton 0-1 Tottenham: Kane fires Spurs back into the Europa League

Harry Kane scored the only goal of the game as Tottenham secured fifth place in the Premier League with a 1-0 final-day win at Everton.

The England striker headed home a superb cross from Eric Dier midway through the first half to secure Tottenham's first victory at Goodison Park since 2007 and automatic qualification for the UEFA Europa League after Liverpool were thumped 6-1 at Stoke City.

Everton, meanwhile, will be glad a disappointing campaign has now come to an end. They were bereft of ideas or attacking intent and rarely troubled Hugo Lloris as they finished in 10th place.

Tottenham were by far the better team in the first half, with Mauricio Pochettino's side seemingly determined to avoid sixth spot and the Europa League qualifying rounds.

Erik Lamela flashed an early attempt over the top and, when he did manage to hit the target, Tim Howard smartly denied him after Everton debutant Brendan Galloway was robbed of possession deep inside his own half.

Howard, however, had no chance with the header from Kane that put Spurs in front in the 25th minute.

Dier's excellent ball in from the right flank allowed the forward to nod home his 21st Premier League goal of the season, equalling a club record that he now shares with Teddy Sheringham, Jurgen Klinsmann and Gareth Bale.

Everton played like they were already on a beach for the first half an hour, though eventually they did show some interest in finishing an otherwise below-par campaign on a high note.

Kevin Mirallas flashed a left-footed half-volley over the bar having already wasting a glorious chance with his right, shooting straight at Lloris after being played through by Ross Barkley.

The Belgian got the better of Lloris in the closing minutes of the half, only to see his lob from a tight angle end up sitting on the top of the net.

Everton manager Roberto Martinez put Muhamed Besic on in place of the erratic Barkley at half time, and the change nearly paid immediate dividends as the substitute dragged a right-footed shot just wide with Lloris beaten.The Frenchman was busy again in the visiting goal soon after, flying off his line to smother the ball at the feet of the advancing Galloway.

Yet the promise of a home comeback in the second half soon disappeared, with Tottenham seizing control of midfield again after coming through the early second-half storm unscathed.

Pochettino's men controlled possession and Kane's header proved enough for them to come out on top, with the biggest cheer of the day from the home fans coming when departing defender Sylvain Distin was brought on for a late farewell appearance.