Southampton

Alex Brotherton
BBC Sport journalist

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Defeat to Tottenham not only confirmed Southampton's relegation to the Championship, but broke the record for the earliest relegation in Premier League history.

No team had previously had relegation mathematically confirmed with seven or more games left to play.

If the Saints aren't careful they could end up making more unwanted history - they currently have one point less than the 11 Derby County finished with in 2007-08, the lowest points tally in Premier League history.

Though relegation is never easy to stomach, Southampton's fate was known long before Sunday afternoon.

Ivan Juric's side actually played with a degree of freedom in the second half, and made things interesting when Mateus Fernandes pulled a goal back in the 90th minute.

If they replicate that 45 minutes in at least one of their remaining seven games, they will at least avoid becoming the worst Premier League side in history.

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Southampton captain Jack Stephens says the club's relegation from the Premier League is "humiliating", with Ivan Juric's side still rooted to the bottom of the table on 10 points after a 3-1 loss to Tottenham.

Speaking to BBC Radio Solent after the game, Stephens said: "It's obviously still fresh, but this season has been a massive disappointment. We are really disappointed in the dressing room. The lads are obviously really down. We are just gutted that we couldn't give the fans what they deserve, not only today but also this season as a whole."

On what he would say to the club's supporters about this season: "First thing's first, we have to look at ourselves. That is what we will do and what we have spoken about already. We have to look in the mirror and ask ourselves whether we did everything we could and whether we have been good enough.

"Ultimately, the answer to the second question is that we have been nowhere near good enough.

"We can say that the gap between the Championship and the Premier League is getting bigger - which it is - but we shouldn't be relegated with seven games to go."

On what the mood has been like in Southampton's dressing room: "I won't accept anyone not giving 100% and I can stand here and say that hasn't been the case this season.

"This group of lads have given everything, have really worked hard at it and have stuck together. I would be the first person to tell you if the dressing room wasn't in a good place.

"We are low - we have been for a few months - but we have stuck together and stuck at it. I just hope that has reflected on the pitch. The bottom line is that we haven't been good enough, as individuals and as a team.

"I just genuinely believe we have fallen short. We haven't been good enough from day one and, once you get into that rut of losing games and conceding goals, it is very difficult to get out of it."

Listen to the full post-match interview on BBC Sounds

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Southampton centre-back Jan Bednarek has been speaking to Premier League Productions: "Let's be honest, today is just official but we knew for a few weeks that relegation was coming. It was just a matter of time. Next season we will be in the Championship and it is the beginning of something new. We have to build something good around the club.

"We can't change the past, the only thing we can do in the last seven games is to enjoy being in the Premier League. We have to improve as players and as a club. Hopefully we are going to build something great.

"The best thing is that we can learn, we can work hard and we can improve. Hopefully we can perform better in the last seven games. We want to get more points, I don't think 10 is enough. Hopefully we will get more points."

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Southampton manager Ivan Juric speaking to Sky Sports: "We know that we are in a bad situation and today was a certain thing. I cannot say anything bad about the players, it was a really tough year for everyone."

On what he wants to see between now and the end of the season: "I want to see the Crystal Palace game like we played the second half here. We have to try and play good games."

On discussions for his future: "No, now we will see everything. We are thinking just about the games now. We will see now what everyone thinks, what I think. The fans deserve much more and we have to understand all of the mistakes we have made and then create something really strong."

On avoiding Derby's 11-point record: "We have to avoid that record. Do our best. It cannot happen."

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Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale speaking to Sky Sports: "We knew it was probably going to be inevitable at some point, we haven't been good enough all season. We were dominated by the better team. We dug in in the second half but it is a sad day and one that this group of players will learn from.

"We need wins, points, performances. It has to come to a point where the fans are happy and singing. Fair play to those [fans] who came today, have been at Saint Mary's and travelled around the country. We have to build some momentum going in to the Championship season."

On trying to go past Derby's 11-point record: "We want to get as many points as we can until the end of the season. No-one wants that record and we will do what we can to get more points on the board."

On his saves: "Something like that can hopefully spark a period in the game. I'm there to try and save as many as possible but we have fallen short today and during the season."

On the group: "Some are experiencing relegation for the first time so there will be a lot of emotions from them over the next few days. The lads who have been here before, we have to try and pick the young boys up. This group did incredible things last season. Nobody will want to jump ship with seven games to go."

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Southampton are the first team in Premier League history to be relegated with as many as seven games of the season remaining.

Having only been relegated two times in their first 45 seasons in the English top-flight between 1966-67 and 2021-22 (1973-74 and 2004-05), Southampton have now been relegated in two successive Premier League campaigns (2022-23 and 2024-25).

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Tottenham's performance

What did you make of Southampton's display?

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Four matches make up Sunday's Premier League action and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

• Brentford v Chelsea - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Fulham v Liverpool - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Tottenham v Southampton

• Man Utd v Man City (16:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 live

All kick-off times 14:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

It was almost a big week for Southampton, who would have surpassed the Premier League's record-lowest points total, currently held by Robbie Savage's Derby County, if they had held on to beat Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

They came agonisingly close and in many ways I would take a Saints victory here, just so I can enjoy hosting 606 with Robbie between now and the end of the season.

You will probably all have heard him recently, banging on about what a job he has done to take big-budget Macclesfield to promotion from the Northern Premier League, but I'd like to balance things a little bit with him hanging on to his record.

I can't see Southampton taking three points here, though, even if the two other teams in the bottom three have already gone to Tottenham and won.

Spurs won 5-0 at St Mary's before Christmas, in Russell Martin's final game as Saints boss.

Ange Postecoglou's side are not playing well, so they won't score as many this time, but it should still be very comfortable for them and they might even keep a clean sheet.

Sutton's prediction: 3-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

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Earlier, we asked which player has appeared in the most Premier League wins for Southampton.

The answer is James Ward-Prowse, who was involved in 106 victories.

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Southampton have won just one of their past seven Premier League games against Tottenham, beating them 3-2 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in February 2022.

None of Tottenham's past 15 Premier League home games against Southampton have finished level (W12 L3). Tottenham have scored in all of those games, while the Saints have also found the net in each of the past eight games.

Son Heung-min has had a hand in 18 goals in 16 Premier League appearances against Southampton (11 goals, seven assists). The only current Premier League player with more goals and assists against a single opponent is Mohamed Salah against Manchester United (13 goals, six assists).

Holly Bacon
BBC Sport journalist

Ivan Juric has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Tottenham (kick-off 14:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Juric said Paul Onuachu has missed training with an "ankle problem" but added: "[Ryan] Manning is OK, Lesley [Ugochukwu] is OK. I think Will Smallbone will come back into training tomorrow."

• On the progress of Cameron Archer: "I think he's a really emotional guy, a really quiet guy and in the past few weeks and months, he's been completely different and very good in training. If he plays, I think he will be really good."

• Juric was also asked how he thinks Tyler Dibling has been playing since his injury: "I think that he is a really young guy. They start to know him, what he's doing - he's not like a new player where nobody knows him. It became a little bit more difficult for him but I have to say he is working really hard and getting better."

• On the prospect of being relegated this weekend if results go against them: "I don't think about that anymore. Our goal has to be not be the worst team."

• On whether he thinks he will keep his job if they are relegated: "At this moment I don't know. I have to speak with the club and see. Every coach has his vision and I think the club has to do everything they can to agree with the coach and then they go the same way."

• On his game plan for the trip to Spurs: "It will be different because they play completely different [to Crystal Palace]. It's 4-3-3 and it's different but I want to work on this principle now - the moment of high pressure [and] the moment we are low and we defend lower. I think this will be our way until the end of the season."

• He was also complimentary of Ange Postecoglou's side: "I have a feeling they are like last year now, much more compact and I think some players are crucial for them like [Cristian] Romero and they are really good again."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Full commentary of Tottenham v Southampton on the BBC Sport website from 14:00 BST on Sunday

Which player has appeared in the most Premier League wins for Southampton?

Come back to this page at 17:00 BST for the answer

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On the latest episode of BBC Radio Solent's Goin' Home With Adam And Jo podcast, Adam Blackmore calls for continuity within the starting XI after Southampton almost held on to beat Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

"Let's have the manager not overcomplicate it and just go again," Blackmore said. "Also, do it for the rest of the season unless you'e got a real reason to change it.

"Part of my thinking is, some fans might be saying 'well you've got to put Tyler Dibling in there'. Frankly, I don't think you have.

"I don't think he has been the same player since his injury. I don't think he's been the same player since the transfer talk and although he's young and I don't want to pick on him, I don't see the same player in the past two months."

Former Saints player Jo Tessem added: "With the game we had against Crystal Palace, [boss Ivan Juric] doesn't need to make many changes. He just needs to put the same team out again - without Flynn Downes obviously - because he is suspended and go with that.

"I think that would keep a little bit of calmness in there towards the Tottenham game."

Listen to the full episode

Dan George
BBC Sport at St Mary's

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Southampton defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis says that talk of trying to not be the worst Premier League side ever is "embarrassing."

Derby County hold the record for the lowest tally in Premier League history, finishing bottom on 11 points in 2007-08.

On Wednesday night, the Saints edged closer to getting over that unwanted record with a draw against Crystal Palace, that takes their total for the season to 10 points.

"We just wanna get over it," Harwood-Bellis told BBC Radio Solent. "It pains us to even say that is the case. It's not somewhere we expected to be and it's embarrassing - we're not gonna shy away from that.

"We will look to rack up the points and try to put an uplift going into next season, that has to be the main focus.

"That's down to our mentality and we'll see who the real characters are going into the final games of the season."

Supporters found plenty to be encouraged about at St Mary's on Wednesday night. Despite the late equaliser by Palace, at the full-time whistle most fans were on their feet applauding the team for their efforts.

Saints produced some moments of quality in the match and a brilliant move to take the lead in the first half.

Ivan Juric's side will hope to build on this and carry elements of the performance into their final eight league matches.

They face Tottenham away on Sunday, the reverse fixture earlier in the season was Russell Martin's last before being sacked - they lost that game 5-0.

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We asked for your views on Southampton's draw with Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

Here are some of your comments:

Southampton fans

Chris: Best performance we have seen this season. Balanced hard-working team who marked every Palace player and gave them no space. Brilliant.

Stuart: I am gutted for the lads. They actually played their hearts out for the fans. They just couldn't hold on! We need eight more performances like this. Just leave it all out on the pitch. I don't care about 11 points or anything. Play with heart and guts and I will be a happy Saints fan. Let's get back to a proper league and rebuild!

Barry: Decent display. Might give the lads some much-needed confidence. Having a leader like Jack Stephens back in the line-up helped. Kyle Walker-Peters and Matheus Fernandes were superb and Flynn Downes played his best game for a long time.

Palace fans

Graham: An after-party hangover! A disappointing display and we struggled to get going after Jean-Philippe Mateta's early shot and we gave the Saints too much space.

Beefus: Palace looked complacent from the off as if they thought they had a right to win. Their passing was very sloppy and general play showed no urgency. I think the measure of a poor side is how easily they give away possession. On this display, the Eagles looked like the relegation candidates.

John: Crystal Palace did not perform as they have done of late but Southampton must be given credit to turn on a performance like they did. As a CPFC supporter for over 70 years, I can say that if there was a team that was going to help them out it would be Palace. Every other team gives them a beating but not good old CPFC.

The latest episode of the Goin' Home With Adam And Jo podcast has landed.

BBC Radio Solent's Adam Blackmore and former Saints player Jo Tessem are delighted to discuss Southampton avoiding defeat against Crystal Palace.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Highlights and analysis from nine midweek Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Arsenal 2-1 Fulham

• Nottingham Forest 1-0 Man Utd

• Liverpool 1-0 Everton

• Newcastle 2-1 Brentford

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Southampton boss Ivan Juric, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "I think we did a very good performance, we control the game, didn't risk anything, they score on one set-piece.

"It's frustrating because I think the guys deserved a victory.

"When you work with the guys for three months you know them, today we really did a good game. I think in some moments we can play better, technically we missed some really easy passes."

On Paul Onuachu's performance: "He was really good, when he is full of energy he can be really good, he did good work."

On whether Southampton will beat Derby County's record-low Premier League points tally of 11: "Tonight I'm disappointed because we deserved to win the game. The guys must train and prepare for every game like we did today, then the points will arrive."