Southampton have made unwanted Premier League history after becoming the first team to be relegated with seven games remaining, following a 3-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.
A first-half brace from Brennan Johnson and a stoppage-time penalty by Mathys Tel sealed the Saints’ fate, despite a late 90th-minute goal from Mateus Fernandes that briefly gave the travelling fans hope. The result marked Southampton’s 25th league defeat of the season and cemented their immediate return to the Championship after just one year back in the top flight.
The loss to Spurs means Southampton now sit on just 10 points, with their sights uncomfortably close to Derby County’s infamous record of 11 points in the 2007/08 season—the lowest-ever tally in Premier League history.
Under the guidance of manager Ivan Juric, the club has struggled for form, structure, and consistency throughout the campaign. Their fall back to the Championship was largely expected, but the speed at which it’s happened is what has shocked even the most pessimistic Saints supporters.
For Tottenham, the win provided some much-needed relief after a four-game winless run, moving them up to 13th place in the league. But unrest remains at the club, with protests against chairman Daniel Levy and the ownership intensifying outside the stadium before the game.
Still, Ange Postecoglou’s men did enough on the pitch, with Johnson earning and converting a penalty late in stoppage time after being brought down by Welington, capping off a dominant display.
The writing had been on the wall for Southampton for weeks, and their fate was finally sealed in North London. They now hold the record for the earliest Premier League relegation, surpassing the previous record of six games remaining.
Their return to the Premier League has been nothing short of a disaster, and unless they earn two or more points from their final seven matches, they will go down in history alongside Derby as one of the worst-performing sides in the competition.
With their top-flight status now officially gone, the Saints must begin preparing for life in the Championship and it won’t be easy. With a disjointed squad, potential player departures, and major decisions looming over the managerial position, the road to recovery will be steep.
Meanwhile, Tottenham turn their focus to the rest of the campaign, hoping to regain consistency and finish the season on a high note, despite off-field tensions.
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