Matheus Franca’s stoppage-time goal for Crystal Palace denied Southampton only a third Premier League win of the season and left them on the brink of an unwanted record.
Substitute Franca’s late header, to secure a 1-1 draw for the Eagles, means Saints will be relegated at the weekend if they lose at Tottenham and Wolves beat Ipswich.
If relegation is confirmed on Sunday, Southampton will be the first team to be consigned to the drop with seven matches still to play.
Even the 2007-08 Derby side, the low bar by which all poor Premier League teams are measured, had six games left, as did Huddersfield in 2019 and Sheffield United four seasons ago.
Saints did at least move on to double figures for the season, but they are still one shy of Derby’s record low total points tally of 11.
Palace arrived at St Mary’s on a five-match winning streak and buoyed by reaching the FA Cup semi-finals at the weekend, form which has seen manager Oliver Glasner linked with Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.
Looking for a seventh straight away win, they almost scored after 90 seconds when Jean-Philippe Mateta, still with his ear heavily strapped following that horror injury against Millwall last month, let fly from 25 yards and crashed his shot against the underside of the crossbar.
Palace had not conceded a goal away from home since Christmas, so it came as a bit of a shock when Saints took a 20th-minute lead.
Mateus Fernandes exchanged passes with Flynn Downes on the right before swinging in a cross for 6ft 7ins striker Paul Onuachu to bury his header.
“We are staying up,” came the chant from the home fans. “Say hello to Millwall” was the response from the Palace end.
Mateta looked certain to equalise in the 35th minute after spinning inside the area and sending a low shot goalwards, but Aaron Ramsdale got down to make a fine one-handed save.
After the break Ismaila Sarr burst forward and teed up Eberechi Eze, but the England forward’s angled finish hit the side-netting.
Eze skied a free-kick after he was wrestled to the floor by Downes before Eddie Nketiah was denied by Ramsdale with the rebound ricocheting off the striker and bouncing wide.
A groan went up when the fourth official signalled eight minutes of stoppage time, and moments later Palace had their equaliser.
You could almost hear the cheers from Derby when Jefferson Lerma’s cross was met with a header from Franca which squirmed between Ramsdale and his near post.
Palace almost grabbed a winner, which would have felt even crueller on Saints, but Nketiah’s snap-shot flew just over the crossbar.
Arne Slot said Premier League top scorer Mohamed Salah proved he is “human” after missing an open goal at a crucial stage of Liverpool’s thrilling 3-2 loss at Brighton.With the champions leading 2-1 at the Amex Stadium, Reds forward Salah had a golden chance to mark his 300th Premier League appearance with a 29th top-flight goal of the campaign.But he somehow fired wide from the ...
Jack Hinshelwood struck a late winner as Brighton boosted their slender hopes of scraping Conference League qualification with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Premier League champions Liverpool.Arne Slot’s Reds were on course for success at the Amex Stadium following an eye-catching finish from Dominik Szoboszlai after Seagulls midfielder Yasin Ayari cancelled out Harvey Elliott’s early o...
Mikel Arteta said he is ready to give his life to deliver a trophy for Arsenal after he apologised to the club’s fans for ending the season empty handed.Declan Rice’s second-half strike fired Arsenal to a 1-0 win over Newcastle and confirmed their place in the Champions League.However, the Gunners failed to launch a serious title challenge to Liverpool this season, and they are set to ...
Jamie Vardy reflected on an “amazing” and “rollercoaster” career with Leicester after scoring a landmark 200th goal in his 500th and final appearance for the Foxes.The 38-year-old former England striker reached the goal milestone in the 28th minute of Leicester’s home match with Ipswich when he latched on to James Justin’s through ball and expertly slipped it be...
Mikel Arteta apologised to Arsenal supporters for failing to deliver on his dream of ending the club’s two-decade wait for a Premier League title.Declan Rice’s second-half strike fired Arsenal to a 1-0 win over Newcastle and confirmed their place in the Champions League next season.However, the Gunners failed to launch a serious challenge to Liverpool this season and are set to finish ...
Interim boss Liam Fox welled up with tears as he reflected on his “pride” at leading Hearts to four straight wins before departing his boyhood club as they prepare to confirm Derek McInnes as their new manager on Monday.With McInnes set to bring his own backroom staff with him from Kilmarnock, it was announced on Saturday that Fox – a childhood Jambo who started both his playing ...
Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor heaped praise on her side’s new celebrity investors after multi-millionaire entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian and his wife, tennis great Serena Williams, flew over for their FA Cup final triumph at Wembley.Sandy Baltimore scored a brace either side of a Catarina Macario goal as Chelsea sealed an unbeaten domestic treble with a 3-0 victory over Manchester United in fron...
Declan Rice’s second-half strike fired Arsenal to a 1-0 win against Newcastle at the Emirates and a place in next season’s Champions League.Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya kept his side in the match with a string of fine saves prior to the interval before Rice delivered from range with 55 minutes gone.Arsenal’s victory moves them five points clear of third-placed Newcastle with jus...
Marco Silva says Harry Wilson will “want to play Brentford every week” after he stung the Bees for a second time this season with the winner in Fulham’s 3-2 west London derby victory at the Gtech Community Stadium.Wilson, who had his contract extended until next summer this week and also scored a stoppage-time double in Fulham’s 2-1 win over Brentford in November, replicate...
Tony Docherty thanked Lyall Cameron for an outstanding career at Dundee after the midfielder signed off in style with a double in victory over St Johnstone.Cameron, who penned a pre-contract with Rangers in February, inspired a 2-0 win that eased the Dark Blues away from the relegation play-off place.The 22-year-old netted after 28 minutes and rounded off a man-of-the-match display with a stoppage...
- 1 Richie Wellens hails Leyton Orient’s ‘outstanding’ victory over Stockport
- 2 We will see – no Unai Emery assurances over future of tearful Emiliano Martinez
- 3 Arsenal offer £135k deal to seduce target
- 4 Mikel Arteta ready to give his life to deliver silverware for Arsenal
- 5 Leyton Orient book Wembley date by beating Stockport on penalties
- 6 Chelsea beat Manchester United in FA Cup final to seal domestic treble
- 7 Mikel Arteta apologises for failing to deliver Arsenal a Premier League title
- 8 Liverpool cleared to complete signing
- 9 Brendan Rodgers hits out at ‘needless challenge’ on Reo Hatate
- 10 Marc Guehi to land transfer to Real or Barca