Aussies enjoy final day success

Australian players enjoyed success on the final day of the English Premier League season, with Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka getting amongst the goals and Lucas Neill, John Filan and Josip Skoko all surviving the drop down to The Championship after dramatic wins.

Australian players enjoyed success on the final day of the English Premier League season, with Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka getting amongst the goals and Lucas Neill, John Filan and Josip Skoko all surviving the drop down to The Championship after dramatic wins.

Most interest centred on the battle for relegation, with Lucas Neill-s West Ham doing the double over champions Manchester United with a 1-0 win at Old Trafford. Neill played his part with a solid performance in defence that win lifted the Hammers three points clear of Sheffield United, who were locked in battle with Filan and Skoko-s Wigan Athletic.

The scenario was simple, Sheffield United needed just a point and Wigan needed a win, with the two Aussies starting on the bench for Wigan. Skoko came on midway through the first half and in the end, it was Wigan that grabbed all three points, joining Sheffield on the same points, but with a one goal better goal difference.

Qantas Socceroo midfielder Harry Kewell did his chances of playing in the UEFA Champions League final no harm, with an encouraging half hour in Liverpool-s final match of the Premier League campaign - a 2-2 draw at home against Charlton Athletic.

Kewell came on in the 57th minute and promptly lifted the home side, setting up Liverpool-s first equaliser and then scoring from the penalty spot to tie the match at 2-2. Kewell also had several other shots at goal, as Liverpool finished 3rd.

Having only just returned from a long-term injury, Kewell-s cameo performance will have pleased his coach Rafa Benitez, ahead of the final against AC Milan on Wednesday (23rd) week.

With much speculation about where he will be playing next season, Mark Viduka ended the season on a high, scoring twice in Middlesbrough-s 3-1 win over Fulham. Viduka was at his best, cracking two goals past Fulham keeper Niemi that took his season goal tally to 19. Mark Schwarzer played a full game and Brad Jones remained on the bench, as Boro finished 12th.

Brett Emerton played a full game, as Blackburn Rovers played in the days most entertaining match, a 3-3 draw at home against Reading. Reading-s Aussie keeper Adam Federici came on midway through the first half, as the two battled it out for a chance at earning a place in the EUFA Cup next season. Unfortunately both fell short, with Blackburn finishing 10th and Reading in 8th.

No other Aussies featured on the final day, with Tim Cahill-s (back in Australia recovering from injury) Everton finishing 6th, while Craig Moore-s (hamstring) Newcastle United finished in 13th.

Meanwhile, Marco Bresciano played a full game, as Palermo-s dismal run continued with a 2-1 loss away to relegated Ascoli. The loss has seriously threatened Palermo-s hopes of qualifying for the UEFA Cup.

Vince Grella had better fortunes, playing a full game in Parma-s 4-1 win over Messina, which lifted them out of the relegation zone and up to a healthy 13th place. They are still not out of the woods with two matches remaining, but their big win helped their goal difference significantly in what is a tight battle for the last relegation place.