Southampton’s relegation to the Championship was officially sealed on Sunday afternoon after a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur.
Spurs began the match with composure and control, dictating the tempo and keeping Ivan Juric’s side penned back.
Southampton found it difficult to break into the opposition half, with Tottenham’s pressing game effectively nullifying their attacking threats.
The hosts’ dominance soon paid off. Brennan Johnson broke the deadlock with a composed left-footed strike, expertly converting Djed Spence’s delivery.
Ange Postecoglou’s men kept up the intensity, and while Lucas Bergvall thought he had doubled their advantage, his goal was chalked off after a prolonged VAR intervention.
It wasn’t long, though, before Johnson struck again. His close-range finish gave Spurs a two-goal cushion heading into the break, leaving the visitors with a steep uphill battle in the second half.
Southampton improved after the restart, enjoying more possession, but they rarely threatened in the final third.
As the game neared its end, a late flurry of goals added drama to an otherwise one-sided affair. Mateus Fernandes pulled one back in the 90th minute, offering a sliver of hope for the Saints, but that was quickly extinguished when Mathys Tel converted a penalty in stoppage time, sealing all three points for Spurs and confirming Southampton’s drop to the second tier.
