Defeat to Palace ends Stoke’s 10-year stay in the Premier League

Stoke City manager Paul Lambert vowed that his side would bounce back into the Premier League after their relegation was confirmed with a 2-1 home defeat by Crystal Palace.

The Scot, who took over from Mark Hughes in January but failed to revive the ailing side, made it sound as if he still wanted to be the man to lead them back into the top flight after a familiar dispiriting afternoon.

“I love it here it’s brilliant,” Lambert told the BBC. “It’s probably not too dissimilar to Glasgow where I’m from – a hard-working place – and we have to bounce back up now.

“The club is too big not to. It will regroup and it’s got the right infra-structure in place to do it.”

Stoke’s fate was sealed with a familiar mixed performance – plenty of effort but a lack of bite and quality up front – as they surrendered a lead given to them by Xherdan Shaqiri’s free kick just before the break.

After the interval, though, Palace dominated to win with goals from James McArthur and Patrick van Aanholt and end the Potters’ 10-year stay in the Premier League.

Stoke captain Ryan Shawcross conceded the players had only themselves to blame.

“It’s difficult obviously but it’s not just about one game. It’s over a season and we’ve not been good enough all season,” he said.

“Ultimately it’s down to the players. Since the gaffer has come in we’ve had a right go and been in every game.”

Jake Livermore kept alive West Bromwich Albion’s slender hopes of avoiding relegation as his last-gasp strike clinched a dramatic 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur.

Albion knew only three points at The Hawthorns would be enough to stave off relegation.

With Darren Moore’s side just minutes away from dropping into the Championship, Livermore sparked wild celebrations when the midfielder prodded home after a goalmouth scramble two minutes into stoppage time.

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino said: “In football you can dominate but you need to be clinical in front of goal and today wasn’t good.

“I am very disappointed because we lost the game. Still, we have it in our hands to be in the top four.”

Swansea City missed a chance to boost their survival bid as Bournemouth won 1-0 at the Vitality Stadium.

Ryan Fraser blasted home with a quick free kick from the edge of the area in the 37th minute.

Carlos Carvalhal’s side have gone seven games without a win.

West Ham United look set to avoid relegation after a 2-0 win at Leicester City.

Joao Mario’s close-range finish in the 34th minute put West Ham ahead before Mark Noble’s 64th-minute strike left David Moyes’ side clear of the bottom three with two games remaining

Watford beat Newcastle United 2-1 at Vicarage Road to guarantee their top-flight status.

First-half goals from Roberto Pereyra and Andre Gray put Watford in control before Ayoze Perez reduced the deficit early in the second half.