Sport news in brief
Spurs clinch Europa League place with draw at Palace
Tottenham booked their place in next season’s Europa League after a 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace. Spurs had to better Wolves’ result at Chelsea to guarantee a top-six finish and they did the job as Harry Kane’s 14th goal in 19 games under Jose Mourinho helped earn the decisive point. It was far from convincing, though, as Palace levelled through Jeffrey Schlupp and were the better team in the second half at Selhurst Park as they ended a seven-game losing streak. Nonetheless, to secure their place in Europe has to be heralded as as impressive achievement as they were seven points off sixth after defeat to Sheffield United earlier this month, but a six-game unbeaten streak has got them there, even if it is on goal difference.
Southampton shine again as Adams haunts former club Sheffield United
Che Adams’ brace inspired Southampton to an impressive 3-1 comeback victory against his former club
Sheffield United as Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men ended the season on a high. Chris Wilder’s side have earned plenty of plaudits for a superb first season back in the Premier League and Saints also deserve immense credit for the way they have turned relegation form around. Nobody could have foreseen Saints finishing 11th when they were humbled 9-0 by Leicester in October, but nine months on they blunted the Blades as Adams’ double and a Danny Ings penalty secured victory at St Mary’s. Saints have been one of the stars of ‘Project Restart’ and head into the summer on the back of a seventh match unbeaten – something that had looked unlikely during a shaky first half.
Brighton secure record points total with win at Burnley
There was no Golden Glove for Nick Pope nor a Premier League points record for Burnley as Yves Bissouma and Aaron Connolly fired Brighton to a 2-1 victory at Turf Moor. Bissouma’s fine curling effort after 20 minutes ended Pope’s hopes of a 16th clean sheet of the season, allowing Manchester City’s Ederson to claim the Golden Glove as Pep Guardiola’s side finished with a 5-0 win over Norwich. Chris Wood drew Burnley level just before half-time, but Connolly’s goal five minutes into the second half left the Clarets level with the 54 points they collected in 2017/18 as they lost at home in the league for the first time since New Year’s Day. Brighton, who moved up to 15th with the win, will go into the shortened off-season taking encouragement from a positive display as they posed a regular threat on the counter-attack and looked capable of scoring more.
Swansea take slender lead against Brentford
Andre Ayew’s terrific late strike gave Swansea a 1-0 win over 10-man Brentford in the first leg of their Sky Bet Championship play-off semi-final. Ayew, who had earlier seen his second-half penalty saved by David Raya, struck nine minutes from time at the Liberty Stadium with a ferocious volley from 16 yards. The Ghana striker had actually started the move before getting on the end of an exchange of passes between Conor Gallagher and Jay Fulton. Brentford had to play the final 25 minutes with 10 men after Rico Henry was shown a straight red card for a lunging tackle on Connor Roberts, although television replays suggested he did make some contact with the ball. Two minutes earlier, Raya was the Bees’ hero after saving Ayew’s spot-kick, awarded when Pontus Jansson sent Rhian Brewster tumbling in the box.