Blackpool suffer relegation in Manchester

Blackpool were relegated from the Premier League after losing 4-2 to Manchester United at Old Trafford.

After Ji-Sung Park put United in front, a magnificent Charlie Adam free-kick and a Gary Taylor-Fletcher strike turned the match on its head.

But in a season of heroism but ultimately failure, Blackpool's familiar defensive problems undid them as Anderson, an Ian Evatt own goal and a Michael Owen strike put some gloss on the scoreline for the champions, sending the Seasiders down in 19th place.

Much pre-match speculation surrounded the United teamsheet, with Alex Ferguson's side preparing for next week's Champions League final having already wrapped up the league title.

But Ferguson put a stop to the controversy by picking a surprisingly strong squad, with Edwin van der Sar made captain on his last appearance at Old Trafford.

Of the starting XI, Van der Sar, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra and Park can expect to be named in the side against Barcelona at Wembley, while Rafael, Paul Scholes, Darren Fletcher, Nani and Dimitar Berbatov could all be involved.

Adam's role in Blackpool's season can hardly be overplayed. His sensational performances inspired them to unimagined heights, before him transfer-saga-inspired slump saw the Seasiders tumble into danger - only for an upturn in Adam's form renewed hope of safety.

Within seconds, he created a golden opportunity for Keith Southern, pulling the ball back from the left side, only for Southern to screw his shot badly wide. Minutes later, he drove a low cross in from the left that Taylor-Fletcher slid for but came up a stud's length short.

At the other end, Matt Gilks held a Rafael volley before Berbatov's sublime turn and shot forced the goalkeeper into more decisive action.

Individual defensive errors have proved Blackpool's downfall all season, and so it was on 21 minutes when Berbatov played Park through. Evatt appeared to have it covered but inexplicably overran the ball and Park chipped the ball almost apologetically over Gilks.

It might have got away from Blackpool. Adam was lucky not to concede a penalty for a rash tackle on Park, while Berbatov forced Gilks into another save following more chaos at the back.

Five minutes before half-time, Adam produced his piece of magic. Blackpool had a free-kick in a central position, 25 yards out, and the Scot swerved a low shot beyond Van der Sar's outstretched paw, and in off the base of the right-hand post.

Events at Molineux meant that goal lifted Blackpool out of the bottom three, and they went even further clear on 57 minutes when Taylor-Fletcher finished a brilliant move, guiding the ball in off the far post from David Vaughan's cross.

Things were to darken soon enough, though.

Six minutes later it was all too easy as Park rolled a low ball inside from the left for Anderson, who guided a first-time shot past Gilks.

Then came Evatt's moment of horror, as he slid to cut out a Chris Smalling cross but succeeded only in slicing it beyond Gilks - a moment of calamity that summed up Blackpool's season, but which the courageous Evatt did not deserve.

It was left to Michael Owen to deliver the coup de grace, breaking through the offside trap and finishing coolly.

Late chances for Adam and Luke Varney came back off the woodwork, but by that stage even a draw would not have been enough.

Old Trafford gave Blackpool and their manager Holloway a rousing ovation