Southampton have become the earliest team to be relegated from the Premier League in the competition's history, with Sunday's 3-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur confirming their demotion to the Championship for the 2025-26 campaign.
The Saints entered the clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium knowing that they would need to avoid defeat to Ange Postecoglou's side to keep their survival hopes alive.
However, a brace from Brennan Johnson and late Mathys Tel penalty secured all three points for Spurs, with the pressure being eased on head coach Ange Postecoglou, who is being linked with a move away from the North London club.
Southampton, who netted late on through Mateus Fernandes, are now 22 points behind 17th-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League table with just 21 points to play for, meaning that even a win in every Saints match from now on and a defeat in every Wolves fixture would not keep them in the division.
Ivan Juric's side are also bidding to avoid having the lowest-ever points total in a Premier League campaign, with that unwanted record being held by Derby County, who only claimed 11 points in 2007-08.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
That is that for Southampton then, with the Saints dropping back into the Championship.
There is no getting away from the fact that it has been an incredibly difficult campaign for the club, with only 10 points being claimed from their 31 matches courtesy of a record of two wins, four draws and 25 defeats.
Three goals at Tottenham on Sunday made it 75 conceded for this Premier League campaign, and it was always going to be a matter of when and not if the Saints were relegated to the second tier.
The club's attention would have switched to next season some time ago, and with a strong summer, there is every chance that they could secure promotion back to the top flight at the first time of asking.
As for Tottenham, this was a much-needed win, albeit a nervy one due to Southampton's late effort.
Spurs' season rests on the Europa League, but the win over the division's basement side did allow them to move up a spot into 13th in the Premier League table, above 14th-placed Manchester United due to their superior goal difference.
TOTTENHAM VS. SOUTHAMPTON HIGHLIGHTS
13th min: Tottenham 1-0 Southampton (Brennan Johnson)
Tottenham make the breakthrough in the 13th minute of the contest, and the goal comes from Johnson, who turns a cross from Djed Spence into the top corner from inside the box - it is a terrific strike from the forward.
42nd min: Tottenham 2-0 Southampton (Brennan Johnson)
Tottenham double their advantage in the 42nd minute of the match, and it is a second of the match for Johnson, with the forward poking into the back of the net after meeting a header from James Maddison.
90th min: Tottenham 2-1 Southampton (Mateus Fernandes)
Southampton give themselves some hope late on, as Fernandes fires into the back of the net from inside the box after controlling the ball with his chest, but is it too late for the Saints?
96th min: Tottenham 3-1 Southampton (Mathys Tel)
Spurs make sure of the points in the sixth minute of added time at the end of the 90, as Tel scores from the penalty spot after Johnson had been fouled inside the box by Welington.
MAN OF THE MATCH - BRENNAN JOHNSON
Johnson came up trumps for Spurs on Sunday, finding the back of the net on two occasions to secure a vital three points for the home side, before winning a penalty late on, and Southampton found it incredibly difficult to contain him.
The 23-year-old was the only Spurs attacker to complete the match, and this was an excellent afternoon for the Welshman.
TOTTENHAM VS. SOUTHAMPTON MATCH STATS
Possession: Tottenham 51%-49% Southampton
Shots: Tottenham 14-12 Southampton
Shots on target: Tottenham 9-4 Southampton
Corners: Tottenham 4-1 Southampton
Fouls: Tottenham 16-20 Southampton
BEST STATS
WHAT NEXT?
Tottenham's attention will now switch to the Europa League, with the North London club preparing to welcome Eintracht Frankfurt for the first leg of their quarter-final on Thursday, before heading to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League next Sunday.
As for relegated Southampton, their season will continue at home to top-four chasing Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon.
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