Premier League: Blackburn 0 Wigan 1

Blackburn Rovers have been relegated from the Premier League after a 1-0 defeat at home to Wigan Athletic on Monday.

A late header from Antolin Alcaraz gave Wigan victory at Ewood Park, securing top-flight status for Roberto Martinez’s side next season.

The visitors largely dominated the match but Blackburn were frustrated not to be awarded a second-half penalty for a foul on Junior Hoilett.

Victor Moses had the first chance of the match, but the Wigan striker’s effort flew well over the bar.

Wigan continued to press and Paul Robinson produced a smart save to deny Franco Di Santo.

Blackburn responded well and created a chance of their own when Yakubu’s knockdown fell to Anthony Modeste outside the box, but his sliced volley went narrowly over.

With Ben Watson pulling the strings in midfield Wigan continued to dominate, with Robinson again on hand to deny Moses and keep the scores level.

Wigan were once again wasteful shortly before half-time when Moses made a mess of his free header after a precise Franco Di Santo cross.

Rovers began the second half strongly and Morten Gamst Pedersen’s rasping shot from the left went just over after a fantastic long ball from substitute Radosav Petrovic.

But Wigan regained the ascendancy and tested Robinson’s goal through shots from Jean Beausejour and James McCarthy Robinson.

Rovers’ best chance came minutes later, but Yakubu could not keep his balance and scuffed his shot which was easily blocked.

The game’s most controversial moment came on the hour mark, when Emmerson Boyce brought down Blackburn’s Junior Hoilett, but referee Mark Clattenburg waved away the penalty appeals.

With ten minutes to go Blackburn brought on striker David Goodwillie for right back Bradley Orr in desperate search for a winner as relegation crept closer with the score still at 0-0.

But the visitors stayed well on top in the closing minutes and found a winner through Alcaraz, who climbed highest at the back post to power a header into goal, ensuring Blackburn fall out of the top flight for the first time since the 1998/99 campaign.