Southampton suffered the earliest relegation in Premier League historical past as they had been condemned to the drop with a 3-1 defeat at Tottenham.
The Saints have endured a depressing time within the high flight after gaining promotion by means of the Championship play-offs final season.
And so they succumbed to the inevitable in north London, a brace from Brennan Johnson placing Spurs in command.
Mateus Fernandes pulled one again for Southampton within the ninetieth minute, however a 96th-minute penalty from Mathys Tel made certain of the factors for Spurs.
It’s a outcome to ease the mounting stress on Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou following their midweek defeat to Chelsea.
Nonetheless, Tottenham’s season basically rests on their fortunes within the Europa League. They face Eintracht Frankfurt within the first leg of their quarter-final tie on Thursday.
Southampton turned the primary workforce to be relegated with seven video games to play and will but break the document for the bottom Premier League factors complete, their newest defeat holding them on 10 factors. Derby County had been relegated with a document low of 11 within the 2007-08 season.
7 – Southampton have turn into the primary aspect in Premier League historical past to be relegated with as many as seven video games left to play. Wimper. pic.twitter.com/ppwW3HFMtW
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 6, 2025
“We’ve to keep away from that document. Do our greatest. It can’t occur,” supervisor Ivan Juric informed Sky Sports activities after the sport.
“We’re pondering simply concerning the video games now. We are going to see now what everybody thinks, what I feel. The followers deserve rather more and we now have to know the entire errors we now have made after which create one thing actually sturdy.”
Postecoglou looking for full efficiency
Although Spurs had little challenge seeing off Southampton, Postecoglou nonetheless was not happy with their second-half displaying, figuring out it doubtless will take a extra full efficiency in opposition to Frankfurt, who’re third within the Bundesliga.
“We carried out effectively within the first half and we now have obtained to ensure we do this for the total 90,” Postecoglou informed BBC Sport.
Johnson’s targets had been his first since February and Postecoglou added of the Wales worldwide: “He was excellent and he additionally earned the penalty. His basic play was actually good, not simply his targets so actually happy for him.
“It was vital we obtained a win at this time and everybody got here by means of [unscathed] for Thursday.”
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea
Chelsea suffered a setback within the race for Champions League soccer as Enzo Maresca’s determination to make 5 adjustments from the aspect that beat Tottenham 1-0 three days in the past didn’t pay dividends.
Talisman Cole Palmer was amongst these left on the bench, maybe with an eye fixed on Thursday’s Europa Convention League quarter-final with Legia Warsaw.
It was Brentford who had the higher alternatives within the first half.
Bryan Mbeumo fired simply previous the suitable publish and Keane Lewis-Potter compelled Robert Sanchez into a powerful save. On the different finish Tosin Adarabioyo wasted a golden probability to offer Chelsea the lead earlier than the break.
Nicolas Jackson was introduced on to begin the second half and practically made a fast affect, with Mark Flekken displaying nice reflexes to forestall Sepp van den Berg from turning the Senegal ahead’s cross into his personal internet.
Palmer entered the fray simply earlier than the hour mark and, although Flekken was the busier of the 2 goalkeepers thereafter, Van den Berg and Yoane Wissa every went shut with headers for the hosts.
Chelsea’s star man had a chance to win it within the 94th minute, however his effort from the sting of the world flew over, stretching the Blues’ winless league run on the highway to eight video games.
Maresca’s males might be leapfrogged into fourth place by Manchester Metropolis ought to they win the Manchester derby, and Chelsea’s slip-up offers Newcastle United the possibility to maneuver degree with them by beating relegation-threatened Leicester Metropolis on Monday.
