Southampton suffer record earliest relegation after defeat to Tottenham

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By George Sessions, PA

Southampton’s survival battle ended at Tottenham after a 3-1 defeat consigned them to relegation from the Premier League in record-breaking fashion.

Saints’ fate had felt inevitable for months, but a 2-1 victory for Wolves at bottom-three club Ipswich on Saturday opened up a 22-point gap to safety for the south coast club.

It meant Ivan Juric’s team required a draw or win in north London to mathematically stay up for at least another week but a first-half brace from Brennan Johnson set the visitors on course for an immediate return to the Sky Bet Championship.

Southampton’s Jan Bednarek, right, reacts after Tottenham’s second goal
Southampton’s Jan Bednarek, right, reacts after Tottenham’s second goal (Bradley Collyer/PA) Photo by Bradley Collyer

Mateus Fernandes grabbed a late consolation before Mathys Tel struck a stoppage-time penalty for Spurs as relegation with seven fixtures left gives Southampton a new Premier League record – while Derby and Huddersfield, in 2008 and 2019 respectively, had their fate sealed in March, both had only six matches to go.

Three points for Tottenham lifts some of the gloom around Ange Postecoglou’s side ahead of Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final first leg at home to Eintracht Frankfurt.

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