Southampton’s Premier League relegation was confirmed in record time on Sunday after they suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur, marking their return to the Championship with seven matches still left to play in the season.
The defeat, which saw Brennan Johnson score twice in the first half, left the Saints stranded at the bottom of the table with no way back. Mateus Fernandes managed a late goal for Southampton, but it proved too little, too late, as their relegation was sealed. This marks the earliest any team has been relegated in Premier League history, with Southampton becoming the first team to drop down with seven games remaining. Previously, Ipswich (1994-95) and Derby (2007-08) were relegated with six games left.
Southampton’s 25th loss in 31 games ensured they surpassed the record low points tally of 11, a figure set by Derby County in the 2007-08 season, as their dismal campaign continues to spiral downward.
The relegation came less than a year after Southampton secured promotion from the Championship, where they triumphed over Leeds in the play-off final at Wembley. Their quick descent back to the second tier is a stark contrast to the attacking football they employed under Russell Martin, who was sacked in December after a heavy 5-0 defeat to Tottenham left them at the bottom with just five points from 16 matches.
Replacing Martin, Ivan Juric, the former Roma boss, was brought in on an 18-month contract, but despite some tactical changes, he could not avoid Southampton’s inevitable fall into the Championship.
Tottenham, meanwhile, picked up a much-needed victory to ease some pressure on manager Ange Postecoglou. Johnson’s early brace put Spurs in control, with the second goal coming just before halftime. Despite an offside goal from Lucas Bergvall being ruled out, Spurs kept their momentum. A late goal from Fernandes provided a moment of quality for Southampton, but it was little more than a consolation.
With Tottenham’s win lifting them to 13th place in the league, the result gave Postecoglou a brief respite, especially with their Europa League quarter-final against Eintracht Frankfurt looming.
Despite the grim situation, Southampton’s fans showed their unwavering spirit, singing “Que sera, sera… we’re going to Coventry” in a show of humor and defiance as they faced the harsh reality of their relegation.
With their fate sealed, the focus now shifts to Southampton’s rebuilding efforts in the Championship, as they aim to return to the top-flight after what has been a nightmare season.
