Sunderland relegated as 10-year PL stay ends
Sunderland’s 10-year stay in the Premier League is over after Josh King’s late strike gave Bournemouth a 1-0 victory that condemned the Black Cats to relegation yesterday. David Moyes’ side slumped out of the English top-flight with a whimper as the latest dismal display in a wretched campaign ended with King’s winner in the 88th minute. frustrations. Criticised by fans for his negative tactics and charged by the Football Association following his crude comments to a television reporter, it would be no surprise if Moyes parts company with Sunderland during the closeseason. With injuries ravaging his squad, Moyes had to make four changes to the team that lost at Middlesbrough on Wednesday as Sunderland chased a first home league win since December 17.
OUT OF SORTS
Moyes’ men desperately needed an early goal to steady their nerves and they went close when Fabio Borini’s swerving effort drew a good save from Artur Boruc. Sunderland rode their luck when King was denied the opening goal in freak circumstances as his curling shot hit the crossbar, rebounded onto a post and then bounced into the grateful arms of goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
Jermain Defoe’s failure to score since February has been instrumental in Sunderland’s downfall and the England forward was still out of sorts. He blazed high over the bar midway through the half and then, played in by Didier Ndong’s header, he volleyed straight at Boruc from a good position. Sunderland were just as error-prone at the back and more poor defending let in King for a shot that was cleared off the line by Donald Love just before half-time.
Bournemouth wasted two chances to seal Sunderland’s fate early in the second half, with Marc Pugh firing wide with an opportunistic effort before Steve Cook headed over from Ryan