CHARLTON was relegated from the Premier League on Monday after losing 2-0 at home to Tottenham.

Dimitar Berbatov scored in the seventh minute after a cross from Ledley King. Jermain Defoe made it 2-0 in injury time.

Charlton needed to win its final two games to avoid relegation to the second-division League Championship. Charlton remained in 19th place with 33 points, five points behind 17th-placed West Ham with one game remaining.

Wigan has 35 points in 18th. Last-placed Watford will join Charlton and one other team yet to be determined in the League Championship next season.

Going into Sunday’s final round, Sheffield United is in 16th place with 38 points, just ahead of West Ham on goal difference, and three points ahead of Wigan.

Alan Pardew took Charlton to within sight of one of the greatest escapes in Premiership history but time and luck ran out on the side.

Charlton created half-chances as Zheng Zhi of China saw his close-range shot charged down and Darren Bent cut back a cross for Alex Song only for the onloan Arsenal midfielder to head wide.

Even Darren Bent, Charlton’s 12-goal Premiership top scorer, could not find his shooting boots as he fired a 42nd-minute half-chance wide with Everton boss David Moyes and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger looking on.

Earlier reports said Zheng, the China captain, would leave Charlton if the side is relegated this season.

The China international midfielder is on-loan at Charlton from Shandong Luneng until June and told Chinese media last month: “If Charlton is relegated, I won’t stay.

“The pressure isn’t so bad. As a player you’re always under pressure.

“I had pressure in China, so this is nothing new. Though, obviously, things are more intense here in the Premiership.”

(SD-Agencies)

CHARLTON was relegated from the Premier League on Monday after losing 2-0 at home to Tottenham.

Dimitar Berbatov scored in the seventh minute after a cross from Ledley King. Jermain Defoe made it 2-0 in injury time.

Charlton needed to win its final two games to avoid relegation to the second-division League Championship. Charlton remained in 19th place with 33 points, five points behind 17th-placed West Ham with one game remaining.

Wigan has 35 points in 18th. Last-placed Watford will join Charlton and one other team yet to be determined in the League Championship next season.

Going into Sunday’s final round, Sheffield United is in 16th place with 38 points, just ahead of West Ham on goal difference, and three points ahead of Wigan.

Alan Pardew took Charlton to within sight of one of the greatest escapes in Premiership history but time and luck ran out on the side.

Charlton created half-chances as Zheng Zhi of China saw his close-range shot charged down and Darren Bent cut back a cross for Alex Song only for the onloan Arsenal midfielder to head wide.

Even Darren Bent, Charlton’s 12-goal Premiership top scorer, could not find his shooting boots as he fired a 42nd-minute half-chance wide with Everton boss David Moyes and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger looking on.

Earlier reports said Zheng, the China captain, would leave Charlton if the side is relegated this season.

The China international midfielder is on-loan at Charlton from Shandong Luneng until June and told Chinese media last month: “If Charlton is relegated, I won’t stay.

“The pressure isn’t so bad. As a player you’re always under pressure.

“I had pressure in China, so this is nothing new. Though, obviously, things are more intense here in the Premiership.”

(SD-Agencies)