MIDFIELDER Steve Lomas threw Manchester City an English Premier League lifeline when he headed the goal in their 1-0 victory at Aston Villa yesterday but Bolton and Queen's Park Rangers were both doomed to the drop.
With Southampton - scoring through Matthew Le Tissier - and Coventry also winning, the result left City in the bottom three but on the same number of points, keeping alive their hopes of survival with one match to go.
The other three teams' victories condemned QPR to relegation despite a rousing 3-0 home win over West Ham with two goals from Kevin Gallen.
QPR will be joined in the First Division next season by Bolton who lost at home to Southampton.
Le Tissier capitalised on a mistake by defender Jimmy Phillips in the 26th minute.
Coventry won 2-0 away to Wimbledon, both goals coming from Zimbabwe international Peter Ndlovu.