In the end it was all sound and fury signifying no change. The day started, and ended, with Manchester United top and Chelsea second; with Fulham up, Birmingham and Reading down, and Everton keeping fifth place to secure a UEFA cup slot.
Sir Alex Ferguson's 10th Premier League victory with United has set the scene for him to complete another famous double, as United must now surely be favorites to deny Chelsea the Champions League trophy when they meet in Moscow on May 21.
In the end, while the trip to Wigan was no walk in the park, it turned into a convincing victory. Wayne Rooney won a penalty on 33 minutes when he was brought down by Boyce. Cristiano Ronaldo sent Chris Kirkland the wrong way to give United the lead.
It was Ryan Giggs' 758th appearance for the club, equaling Sir Bobby Charlton's record, and he celebrated by coolly slotting the ball past Kirkland on 79 minutes to clinch the title.
The match was marred by referee Steve Bennett's inexplicable decisions ignore Wigan's penalty appeals after Ferdinand handled, and not to dismiss Paul Scholes after what was surely a second bookable offence. But all that now lies in realm of might-have-beens.
In a sign of how things were to turn out for Chelsea, Didier Drogba missed two early chances less than six yards from the Bolton goal. Then disaster struck, as goalkeeper Petr Cech, kitted out as if for a different code in head-guard and fluorescent orange, clattered his own captain on the edge of the box. John Terry, stretchered off, his left arm strapped, will be lucky to play any part in Moscow on May 21.
Drogba shaded the top corner with a free kick after 19 minutes, and on 27 minutes was foiled six yards out by a daring challenge from Iceland international Gretar Steinnson. But Bolton held on and, as news of Cristiano Ronaldo's penalty conversion came in, Chelsea lost momentum.
Half time substitute Shevchenko put the cap on a brighter Chelsea spell when he shinned home after 60 minutes. But Bolton clawed their way back and on 79 minutes Petr Cech made another wild run leaving Ashley Cole to clear off the line. Taylor's injury time equalizer went through Cech's legs to complete a game the Czech international may well want to forget. By then it had long been clear that the replica trophy at Stamford Bridge would not be needed for a victory lap.
Fulham completed their Great Escape with a Danny Murphy goal on 79 minutes that gave them victory over Portsmouth at Fratton Park. Unluckiest of all were Birmingham and Reading who each scored four times in their relegation day victories over Blackburn and already doomed Derby.
Everton cruised to victory, and in the process sealed their UEFA place, with a 3 -1 score line that flattered Newcastle.
Elsewhere, most newsworthy was the 8 – 1 crushing of Manchester City by Middlesbrough. It's a toss-up who will be more embarrassed by the result, apparently outgoing manager Sven Goran Erikson or his nemesis, eccentric owner Thaksin Shiniwatra.
(China.org.cn by John Sexton, May 12 2008)