SAINTS GO MARCHING DOWN AFTER DEFEAT AGAINST COTTAGERS
SOUTHAMPTON have been relegated from the Premier League after slumping to a dismal 2-0 defeat against Fulham at St Mary’s. The bottom side had needed to win to have any chance of beating the drop but second-half goals from Carlos Vinicius and Aleksandar Mitrovic - in his first outing since serving an eight-game ban - confirmed their fate yesterday afternoon.
It has been a miserable campaign for Saints and their fourth successive loss leaves them eight points behind 17th-placed Everton with just two games remaining.
Rasmus Kristensen struck a late equaliser as Leeds continued their fight against relegation by snatching a 2-2 draw against Newcastle in an eventful encounter at Elland Road.
The Dane netted with a deflected effort 11 minutes from the end of a game that saw three penalties and a red card.
Captain Luke Ayling gave Sam Allardyce’s side an early lead but Patrick Bamford then missed a penalty and third-placed Newcastle made them pay as Callum Wilson scored twice from the spot.
Kristensen spared Leeds from a seventh defeat in nine matches but their afternoon ended on a sour note as Junior Firpo was sent off in stoppage time.
Leeds remain in the bottom three but are just a point behind Everton, who play Manchester City today, while Newcastle are edging closer to a top-four spot.
Manchester United moved level on points with Newcastle with a comfortable 2-0 win over Wolves at Old Trafford. Anthony Martial put Erik ten Hag’s side ahead after 32 minutes with Alejandro Garnacho adding the second late on.
United and Eddie Howe’s Magpies both sit four points clear of fifthplaced Liverpool, who can close back to within one by beating relegationthreatened Leicester tomorrow evening.
Aston Villa added to managerless Tottenham’s ongoing frustrations by beating them 2-1 at Villa Park to pull alongside the London side in the table.
Jacob Ramsey opened the scoring after just eight minutes with Douglas Luiz doubling the lead 18 minutes from time. Harry Kane replied with a penalty in the last minute but Villa held on.
Raheem Sterling and Taiwo Awoniyi scored two goals each as Chelsea and Nottingham Forest played out a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge.
Awoniyi gave the visitors a halftime lead and struck again to earn a valuable point in their survival battle after Sterling responded with a quickfire double before the hour.
Eberechi Eze also scored twice as Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace continued their strong finish the season with a 2-0 win over Bournemouth at Selhurst Park.
BOLTON and Barnsley remain locked together in the battle for a trip to Wembley following a draw in the first leg of their League One play-off semi-final.
After a goalless first half at the University of Bolton Stadium, the visitors took the lead when Devante Cole laid the ball back following a corner and wing-back Nicky Cadden fired it low into the corner.
Wanderers had failed to produce an effort on target before the break but were soon back on level terms as keeper Harry Isted failed to deal adequately with Randell Williams’ cross and the ball rebounded off Dion Charles and into the net.
Bolton pushed forward with intent in search of a winner but Mads Andersen’s last-ditch tackle foiled substitute Daniel Nlundulu as he prepared to shoot and Barnsley held out to the final whistle.
The return leg at Oakwell will take place on Friday evening, with the winners to take on either Peterborough or Sheffield Wednesday - with Posh 4-0 ahead following their first leg - for a place in the Championship next season.
Bolton are in their first play-off campaign for 22 years and seeking to emulate Barnsley’s 2016 feat of winning the EFL Trophy and promotion from League One in the same season.
NOTTS County will join Wrexham in the EFL League Two next season after a dramatic penalty shootout win over Chesterfield in yesterday’s Vanarama National League play-off final at Wembley.
The Magpies, who pushed Wrexham all the way and finished 23 points ahead of Chesterfield in the regular season, were twice behind as the game finished 2-2 after extra time.
County held their nerve in a drama-filled shootout to seal promotion.