Southampton suffered the earliest relegation in Premier League historical past as they have 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 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 consequence to ease the mounting stress on Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou following their midweek defeat to Chelsea.
Nonetheless, Tottenham’s season primarily 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 staff to be relegated with seven video games to play and will but break the report for the bottom Premier League factors complete, their newest defeat conserving them on 10 factors. Derby County have been relegated with a report low of 11 within the 2007-08 season.
7 – Southampton have turn out to be the primary facet 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 now have to keep away from that report. Do our greatest. It can’t occur,” supervisor Ivan Juric advised 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 way more and we’ve to know the entire errors we’ve made after which create one thing actually robust.”
Postecoglou searching for full efficiency
Although Spurs had little concern seeing off Southampton, Postecoglou nonetheless was not happy with their second-half displaying, understanding it doubtless will take a extra full efficiency towards Frankfurt, who’re third within the Bundesliga.
“We carried out effectively within the first half and we’ve acquired to verify we try this for the total 90,” Postecoglou advised BBC Sport.
Johnson’s targets have been his first since February and Postecoglou added of the Wales worldwide: “He was excellent and he additionally earned the penalty. His common play was actually good, not simply his targets so actually happy for him.
“It was vital we acquired a win in the present day and everybody got here by [unscathed] for Thursday.”
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea
Chelsea suffered a setback within the race for Champions League soccer as Enzo Maresca’s resolution to make 5 adjustments from the facet that beat Tottenham 1-0 three days in the past did not 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 fitting put up and Keane Lewis-Potter compelled Robert Sanchez into a formidable save. On the different finish Tosin Adarabioyo wasted a golden likelihood to offer Chelsea the lead earlier than the break.
Nicolas Jackson was introduced on to begin the second half and almost made a speedy influence, with Mark Flekken displaying nice reflexes to forestall Sepp van den Berg from turning the Senegal ahead’s cross into his personal web.
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 realm flew over, stretching the Blues’ winless league run on the highway to eight video games.
Maresca’s males will probably be leapfrogged into fourth place by Manchester Metropolis ought to they win the Manchester derby, and Chelsea’s slip-up provides Newcastle United the possibility to maneuver degree with them by beating relegation-threatened Leicester Metropolis on Monday.
