Game 33 - Chelsea Just Edge It

Stuart Flight's Chelsea went into their final game of the season knowing that nothing short of a victory would be enough for the title.  Despite having led the table all season, the Stamford Bridge side had been unable to open out any sort of a lead, with Jamie Messenger's Preston North End and David Knowles' Everton sides both battling hard to keep up with the leaders.  Chelsea travelled to Middlesboro in the final game one point clear of Preston, who were at Arsenal and Everton - who visited Man City.  The Toffees were first to come unstuck, only able to draw 1-1 at Eastlands.  Preston managed a 3-2 victory at the Emirates which put all the pressure onto Chelsea.  They came through, just about, scraping a 3-2 win themselves at the Riverside.  All that left Chelsea as champions with 52 points, Preston second with 51, Everton third on 49 and in fourth place David Knowles' Norwich back on 43 points.  Preston beat Bolton 2-0 in the FA Cup final after losing 1-0 to Swindon Town (Jamie Messenger's feeder team) in the League Cup final.  James West's Barcelona side won Serie A, their 52 points saw them five clear of Daniel Brickles' Borussia Dortmund with Sean Hallyburton's Real Madrid third on 40 points and David Knowles' Zaragoza fourth with 34 points.  Barca completed the domestic treble, beating Palermo 1-0 in the FA Cup final and Zaragoza 2-1 in the League Cup final, but came up short in the Champions League final where they lost 2-1 to Dortmund.  Bayern Munich beat Man City 2-1 in the UEFA Cup final.