Southampton relegated from Premier League

Southampton were relegated from the Premier League as a 2-0 home defeat to Fulham ended the Saints’ 11-year stay in the top-flight.

FULL MATCH REPLAY

Second half goals from Carlos Vinicius and the returning Aleksandar Mitrovic sealed the win for Fulham as Marco Silva’s side showed their class and look certain to finish in the top 10.

Southampton rarely threatened and Ruben Selles has now seen his side go 11 games without a win as barring a miraculous recovery and given their goal difference, they are all-but confirmed to finish bottom of the Premier League table.

The home fans vented their anger at the full time whistle, chanting ‘you’re not fit to wear the shirt’ as Southampton’s players have been out of their depth for most of this season and they haven’t been helped by the constant managerial changes and change of direction at the top of the club.

Only the ‘big six’ and Everton have been in the Premier League longer than Southampton’s 11-year stay and after four-straight top eight finishes, European action, FA Cup semifinals and a League Cup final over the last decade, the way it has ended this season is nothing short of shambolic. From sacking Ralph Hasenhuttl to hiring Nathan Jones, then firing Jones eight PL games later and then putting assistant Ruben Selles in charge, Southampton have been all over the place this season. Sport Republic arrived as Southampton’s owners 18 months ago and spent heavily on young talents to rejuvenate the squad and it was a risky strategy. It hasn’t worked. At all.

Huge questions need to be asked of the ownership and those (most notably Rasmus Ankersen) who have made the big decisions but it all boils down to this: Southampton’s squad isn’t good enough and those making the