The Royals needed to better Fulham’s result to stay up, but Danny Murphy’s goal condemned them to the second tier.

Reading went ahead when James Harper curled a fine shot into the top corner.

Dave Kitson converted Leroy Lita’s cross, Kevin Doyle prodded in a third and Lita powered in a late header – but it was not enough for Reading.

The visitors were cruelly relegated on goal difference – a heartbreaking end to the season for Royals fans and manager Steve Coppell.

The Irishman clipped in after good work from Darren Bent, who himself twice went close as Spurs dominated early on.

Reading finally found their feet in the second half and Dave Kitson and Liam Rosenior both forced fabulous saves from Radek Cerny in a tense finale.

But Bent also hit the post for Spurs and the visitors found no way through.

It means the Royals must now get a result against Derby on the last day of the season and hope that Fulham drop points

The Latics made a blistering start and almost scored early on when Marcus Bent’s powerful header hit the post.

Reading settled after a poor opening and Leroy Lita and Michael Duberry both went close after the interval.

Michael Brown almost won it for Wigan late on, but neither side could force the winner they desperately needed.

Arsene Wenger’s side outclassed Reading and went ahead after 30 minutes when Emmanuel Adebayor slid home a calm finish from Kolo Toure’s cross.

Gilberto Silva added a second before half-time when his long-range shot deflected in off Andre Bikey.

Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott struck the woodwork and Michael Duberry cleared off the line from Cesc Fabregas after the break as Arsenal dominated.

Brian McBride fired home a Simon Davies cross from close range on 23 minutes to give the visitors a deserved lead.

Fulham hit the bar three times in the second-half before Erik Nevland scored the decisive second, driving home from 15 yards in the dying minutes.

Reading’s best chance came when Kevin Doyle headed just wide on 40 minutes.

Fulham started the day with the knowledge that any result other than a win would make relegation all but a certainty.

Obafemi Martins put Newcastle ahead when he controlled Nicky Butt’s pass and buried it beyond Marcus Hahnemann.

John Oster had a chance to level as Reading looked to respond but saw his header tipped away before Michael Owen hooked Habib Beye’s cross into the net.

Beye set up Mark Viduka, who completed a confident win for Kevin Keegan’s men with a sure-footed second-half strike.

The hosts almost took the lead when Stephen Hunt’s drive hit the bar, but they went ahead when Bikey glanced in John Oster’s free-kick on 31 minutes.

After the break, Mikael Forssell did superbly to cross low into the box for Mauro Zarate to slot in an equaliser.

But Reading snatched a crucial victory when Bikey nodded into the bottom corner from Nicky Shorey’s free-kick.

Marek Matejovsky rounded off a free-kick move from 20 yards out to give Reading an early lead.

Liverpool equalised in equally spectacular fashion when Javier Mascherano rifled his first goal for the club from 23 yards.

Fernando Torres completed the turnaround by planting home an unmarked header from eight yards.

The visitors’ best chance fell to Vedran Corluka, who failed to convert Elano’s free-kick from close range.

City also felt they should have had a penalty for a foul on Michael Johnson.

But Andre Bikey hit the bar for Reading before Long met Kevin Doyle’s cross to break the deadlock – and Kitson’s fine solo goal sealed the Royals’ victory.

Villa’s Gareth Barry missed a dubiously-awarded penalty before the visitors went ahead when Ashley Young slotted home after a counter-attack.

Nicky Shorey had a shot parried as the Royals fought back, but Marlon Harewood curled in a shot to secure Villa’s win.

Reading efforts did receive their reward in injury-time when Shorey scored with a 25-yard free-kick.