Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 41st goal of the season and Ryan Giggs added a second for insurance to confirm Manchester United as champions in a day of drama at both ends of the table in the Premier League.

The Portugal international held his nerve after 33 minutes at the JJB Stadium, sending Chris Kirkland, the Wigan Athletic goalkeeper, the wrong way after Wayne Rooney had been bundled over in the penalty area by Emmerson Boyce. Giggs scored a second to calm United nerves ten minutes from time with a clinical left-footed finish. Victory was always going to be good enough for Sir Alex Ferguson to celebrate his 10th Premier League title in 16 seasons, no matter what closest challengers Chelsea did. Avram Grant’s side drew 1-1 with Bolton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge and lost their captain John Terry to injury.

There had been concern in some quarters that Wigan, managed by Steve Bruce, the former Manchester United central defender, might capitulate, but they gave their all in a tight match and had their chances, most notably in the first half when Luis Antonio Valencia went on a surging run and crossed for Marcus Bent, who could only find the side netting with his attempt on goal, and in the second when Emile Heskey headed just over the bar with goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar beaten.

There was also controversy late in the first period when Paul Scholes, who had already been booked, cynically blocked off the run of Wilson Palacios by the right touchline. The former England midfielder - who had been booked earlier - was given a stern talking to by referee Steve Bennett but escaped a second caution and a dismissal.

Intered Sunday knowing they could do nothing if United, with their vastly superior goal difference, won their match, so their game with Bolton Wanderers was rendered somewhat irrelevant.

Even so, after a lacklustre first half, they exerted some pressure when Andriy Shevchenko scored from close range midway through the second half only for Bolton to equalise through Kevin Davies in stoppage time.

The game, though, was marred by a serious shoulder injury to Terry, the Chelsea captain. The England central defender is now almost certainly out of the Champions League final with Manchester United on May 21 after being carried off in agony following a collision with goalkeeper Petr Cech.

There was just as much tension at the other end of the table, where Birmingham City and Reading were confirmed as the sides who will be joining already-relegated Derby County in the Championship next season.

Reading, who had started the day in the relegation zone, went to Derby County and produced the result they required to give themselves a chance of survival, winning 4-0. James Harper put the Berkshire side in front on 15 minutes, Reading’s first goal in 566 minutes of football and Dave Kitson added a second just after the hour. Kevin Doyle and Leroy Lita added further goals in the second half.

That victory confirmed the relegation of Alex McLeish’s Birmingham City, despite their 4-1 defeat of Blackburn Rovers. David Murphy put the Midlands side in front with a long-range strike which evaded Brad Friedel, the Blackburn goalkeeper, on 31 minutes and Cameron Jerome put them back in front after Morten Gamst Pedersen had levelled early in the second half. Jerome, the former Cardiff City striker, added his second on the last minute, with Fabrice Muamba scoring in stoppage time.

But while Reading had briefly flirted with the thoughts of playing Premier League football again next season, those hopes were dashed when Danny Murphy scored 14 minutes from time to give Fulham victory at Portsmouth and complete a remarkable escape act by manager Roy Hodgson and his players.

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