THE football season was always going to end yesterday in tears of both joy and sorrow, but the great sporting city of Manchester could hardly have experienced such a day of mixed emotions in its history.
While the red half of the city celebrated Manchester United's third Premiership title in four years, those of the light blue persuasion despaired, as Manchester City were relegated.
United went into the final day as clear favourites to win the Championship and they did so in the style the country had come to expect of them.
A 3-0 victory at Middlesbrough meant that the title was theirs, no matter what the result a few miles up the road at Newcastle United. In the end Newcastle, who at one stage this year were 12 points clear at the top of the Premiership table, could not even muster the win that was their only hope, drawing 1-1 with Tottenham Hotspur.
As if Newcastle's misery was not enough, one of United's goals was scored by Andy Cole, a former Tyneside hero.
Manchester United's Steve Bruce yesterday praised Newcastle's contribution to an exciting title race.
The United skipper, a substitute today after recovering from a hamstring strain, said: "Newcastle have been a credit to English football. We send our condolences to them because we know what it's like to be in their shoes at this moment. But they have been magnificent this season."
However, Roy Keane denied his team were worried about Newcastle's result against spurs. City, meanwhile, have been the second team in Manchester for longer than their fans care to remember and yesterday they suffered the ultimate humiliation. Despite recovering from a 2-0 deficit at half-time, a 2-2 draw at home to Liverpool was not enough to save them from relegation to the First Division.
Southampton, Coventry City and Sheffield Wednesday, who had been the other candidates for the drop, all drew and lived to fight another Premiership day.
. Alex Ferguson last night hailed his young team's triumph - but insisted his heart goes out to Newcastle's supporters after the last day title drama.
We are not gloating but we are quietly satisfied," he said.
