Southampton relegated from the Premier League after defeat to Fulham

LONDON: Southampton was relegated from the Premier League after being beaten 2-0 at home by Fulham on Saturday, bringing an end to its 11-year spell in the English top flight.

The defeat means Southampton, who needed a win to stave off relegation, can no longer reel in 17th-placed Everton. Ruben Selles’s side are bottom of the league on 24 points from 36 games, while Fulham’s win moves them up to ninth.

In a scrappy and disjointed opening 45 minutes, neither side were able to take control of the game, with Fulham having more possession and slightly better attempts but no luck in front of goal.

Both teams tried to play with more attacking intent in the second half, as Carlos Alcaraz had a goal disallowed before Carlos Vinicius latched on to a loose ball in Southampton’s box and tapped home the opener for Fulham in the 48th minute.

Substitute Aleksandar Mitrovic then marked his return from an eight-match ban with a goal, sealing the win for Fulham at St Mary’s Stadium with a stooping header in the 72nd minute.

Tottenham Hotspur’s wretched Premier League away form continued with a 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa that left its hope of qualifying for Europe in the balance.

Eberechi Eze scored twice as Crystal Palace beat a disappointing Bournemouth 2-0.

Relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest grabbed a precious point at Chelsea in on Saturday, thanks to two goals from Nigerian forward Taiwo Awoniyi.

Forest earned the early advantage when Renan Lodi lofted a ball into the Chelsea area in the 13th minute. Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, who had not played since getting injured playing for Senegal at the World Cup, came off his line but misjudged the flight and Awoniyi rose between two defenders to head home.

Raheem Sterling scored Chelsea’s 51st-minute equaliser with a simple close-range shot from a pinpoint cross by defender Trevoh Chalobah. Agencies

Also Read: Champions League: Ten-man RC Lens closer to CL with Reims win

Also Watch: