Southampton’s 11-year spell in the Premier League ended with a whimper as second-half goals from Carlos Vinicius’ and Aleksandar Mitrovic secured a first league double of the season for Fulham at St Mary’s.
The visitors took the lead in the 48th minute when Vinicius tapped home unmarked after Harrison Reed’s sliding challenge on Lyanco diverted the ball across goal.
Carlos Alcaraz thought he had broken the deadlock just 57 seconds earlier but his effort was ruled out for offside.
Mitrovic was a second-half substitute for Fulham on his return from an eight-game ban and just six minutes after his introduction, the Serbia striker rose to meet Harry Wilson’s cross to compound Southampton’s despair.
Kicking off eight points shy of safety, the hosts needed a win to keep any faint hopes alive – but there was an air of resignation among home supporters, who were heading for the exits long before the final whistle.
A hefty rebuild is going to be necessary and one that is far more focused than the calamitous January transfer window in which six players were signed but to very little effect.
“It’s disappointing but it’s a moment that has been coming,” said captain James Ward-Prowse, who has made 407 appearances for Southampton. “We’d put ourselves in a difficult position and I thought we did well to take it to this stage of the season.
“When these sorts of things happen, you go away individually and as a club and reflect on whether we did everything we could to achieve our goal. I don’t think we have and that’s a shame as I feel it is about having no regrets and leaving everything out there.
“Over the course of the season that has caught up with us. Ultimately that’s why we are where we are now.”
Fulham’s seventh away win of the Premier League season moves them up to ninth in the table and on track for a first top-half finish since 2012.
Source: Sky sports
In other news-ZANU PF photographer ordered to remove regalia at court
There was drama at Concession magistrates courts when a suspected ZANU PF supporter who allegedly took pictures during the party’s primary elections yesterday stormed the court dressed in party regalia to intimidate the magistrate.
Zephania Muringazuwa is facing disorderly conduct charge and threats charges and is on $20 000 bail.
The magistrate Mr Joshua Nembaware was not intimidated and ordered the suspect to go and dress properly.
In shame he walked out of the courtroom and the matter was remanded to May 16. Learn more
