Antolin Alcaraz headed a late winner as Wigan condemned Blackburn to relegation and ensured their own Premier League survival last night.

The UK’s second biggest supermarket, Asda, today unveiled plans to create some 5,000 jobs this year in a £500m expansion drive.

Mario Balotelli returned to the Manchester City side for this afternoon’s eagerly-anticipated derby at Manchester United.

MANCHESTER CITY are just a home win over Reading away from their first FA Cup semi-final since 1981 after a thumping victory over Aston Villa last night.

An earthquake has shaken northern England for the second time in a fortnight.

PAUL ROBINSON admitted he had fulfilled a childhood dream by scoring the winning goal at Wembley and leading his side up the stadium’s famous steps as Millwall celebrated promotion to the Coca-Cola Championship.

OLD TRAFFORD has staged some memorable title parties in recent years.

MICK McCARTHY has revealed his “immense pride” after Wolves guaranteed Premier League survival yesterday without kicking a ball.

A SECOND-HALF recovery capped by Brede Hangeland’s headed winner means Fulham will head to Germany to face Wolfsburg in Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final second leg lifted by victory.

MARTIN O’Neill has told winger Ashley Young not to be overawed when he joins England as he looks to stake a late claim to a place in Fabio Capello’s World Cup squad.

IT WILL no doubt be another seven days of madness at Fratton Park and even though they managed to pick up three points against relegation rivals, despite their administrator’s protests, they will find themselves docked nine this week.

KEVIN DAVIES’S reputation may have cost him a late winner that would at least have brought some cheer to this drab affair.

JIMMY BULLARD is back and, for Phil Brown and Hull City, not a moment too soon. The Tigers manager has had to wait most of the year for the chance to name his £5million club record signing in his starting line-up due to a serious knee injury.

SHEFFIELD UNITED twice came from behind, thanks to two Darius Henderson penalties, to earn a draw with Barnsley last night. Andersen de Silva gave Barnsley a 52nd-minute lead before Henderson equalised eight minutes later after Luke Steele was deemed to have brought down Ched Evans.

IT is one of football’s hoariest old cliches, the belief that the game’s wild things must be indulged rather than transformed.

IT is a measure of the gloom which has enveloped Hull City for much of 2009 that even a rare victory on Saturday could not spark a smile from Phil Brown.

JUST about the only thing being drawn in the Premier League this season are conclusions as to why the spoils have so far been so rarely shared.

CONTENTMENT comes in many forms but Chelsea, for now at least, are happy to accept it in its simplest state.

BOLTON may have survived this season with something to spare, but manager Gary Megson had a pointed message for the club’s board after warning relegation is a realistic proposition next season unless major investment is made this summer.

RELEGATION battles are full of ill omens, but Bolton Wanderers have good reason to be fearful if their Premier League fate rests on the final day of the season.

JUANDE Ramos insists no member of his Tottenham squad will be untouchable as he uses the final weeks of a suddenly rudderless season to evaluate his playing resources ahead of the summer transfer window. Try telling that to Robbie Keane.

A compulsive gambler is suing a betting chain which let him lose £2m (€2.7m) after he asked to be barred, it was reported today.

ALAN CURBISHLEY has warned Dean Ashton he must remain patient as he looks to force his way back into the England squad.

Leicester 1 Crystal Palace 0

JOHN SHERIDAN had few regrets during a distinguished playing career which included representing the Republic of Ireland at both the 1990 and 1994 World Cups.

LAWRIE SANCHEZ should have been basking in the glow of only a second league win this season on Saturday.

WE’RE not whingeing Brits — honestly.

Sheffield United 1 Ipswich 1

A massive blaze broke out at a chemical plant in the UK today, a Fire Brigade spokesman said.