Brave Barnsley were finally forced to concede defeat in their season-long battle to beat the drop, but there were cheers as well as tears for Danny Wilson's men as they bowed out to a standing ovation from their loyal fans.

The Tykes never-say-die spirit has won them many admirers throughout their brief flirtation with the Premiership high life, but sadly for Wilson and his team of triers it wasn't enough to win them priceless points in the process - a fact not lost on their beaten, yet proud, boss.

A 1-0 defeat at Leicester, on a day when Spurs and Bolton went goal crazy to throw themselves a Premiership lifeline, sent Barnsley back to the grind of the First Division - with Everton now favourites to join them alongside Crystal Palace.

If Howard Kendall's men fall, as they are expected to do, at the feet of champions-elect Arsenal at Highbury today, then Tottenham - inspired by four-goal Jurgen Klinsmann at Wimbledon - will be safe and Bolton's Premiership destiny will be in their own hands.

For Barnsley, however, it's the end of an eventful journey although their pride is still very much intact, with Wilson saying: "We certainly haven't gone out with a whimper and we return to the First Division with our heads held high. It's not the end of the road; it's the start of a new one.

"We have had a good shout and enjoyed being in the Premiership. We want to come back. If all the goodwill people all over the country have shown us was turned into points we'd be up there challenging Arsenal for the title. But it doesn't work like that."