And with that it was done. A title race that had promised so much came to its formal and premature end in bright spring sunshine as Arsenal’s failure to defeat Nottingham Forest ensured that, for the fifth time in six seasons, the Premier League was won by Manchester City, who have three games still to play. But if that side of the equation was ultimately anti-climactic, for Forest there was ecstasy: they will be playing Premier League football again next season.
For others, next week’s trip to Crystal Palace, blithely mid-table, might seem the perfect final-day fixture for a team in need of points. Palace’s job is already done, their suitcases are already packed; they have no need for a dogfight. But Forest’s away form is so poor – just seven points gathered in 18 games on the road this season – there was an awareness they could do with securing survival before then. Offered the opportunity by Everton’s draw at Wolves earlier in the day, they seized it eagerly.
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