Southampton Suffers Record Earliest Relegation After Defeat To Tottenham

‎Southampton’s struggle for survival concluded at Tottenham, where they suffered a 3-1 defeat.

‎This loss marked their 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.

‎Ivan Juric’s team needed at least a draw or a win in north London to have a chance of survival for another week.

‎However, a first-half brace from Brennan Johnson put the visitors on the path to an immediate return to the Sky Bet Championship.

‎Mateus Fernandes found the net late in the game, but Mathys Tel’s stoppage-time penalty for Spurs confirmed Southampton’s relegation.

‎This loss marks a new Premier League record, as the team has seven matches remaining. In comparison, Derby and Huddersfield were relegated in March in 2008 and 2019, respectively, with only six games left to play.

‎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.