Lesley Ugochukwu’s added-time strike ensured Southampton equalled Derby’s record-low Premier League points total with a 1-1 draw at West Ham.
Relegated Saints were still on course to be crowned the worst team in Premier League history after Jarrod Bowen fired the hosts into the lead.
But they were not even the worst team at the London Stadium for long periods of a dreadful game.
And they snatched a deserved point deep into added time when Chelsea loanee Ugochukwu drove home through a crowded penalty area.
The Saints fans behind the goal celebrated like they had won the league, probably drowning out the audible groans from Derby after they saw their record-low points tally of 11 from the 2007-08 season matched.
Meanwhile, to say West Ham have not got going under new boss Graham Potter is one of the understatements of the season.
The Hammers have picked up an average of one point a game since Potter took over, which is a worse record than under much-maligned predecessor Julen Lopetegui.
West Ham did almost grab the lead inside three minutes through Niclas Fullkrug, starting his first game since January after another spell out injured.
The Germany striker got a toe to Lucas Paqueta’s ball into the box ahead of Jan Bednarek but his effort was well saved at his near post by Aaron Ramsdale.
Yet despite still not being mathematically safe from relegation – albeit with virtually no chance of it actually happening – the hosts plodded through the first half with a bewildering lack of urgency.
Southampton, with two wins to their name all season, were by far the more threatening side with Kamaldeen Sulemana teeing up Kyle Walker-Peters, who drove across goal and narrowly wide.
The country’s lowest goalscorers came even closer after half an hour when Jack Stephens’ shot was blocked by Paqueta with Sulemana thudding the rebound against the crossbar.
Boos rang out as the teams trudged off at half-time, and there were still thousands of empty seats when Bowen lifted the tedium a minute into the second half.
The goal came from a Southampton corner, with Emerson Palmieri and then Mohammed Kudus strolling forward before finding Fullkrug, whose incisive pass played in Bowen to slam in his 10th goal of the season.
It was the 78th goal of a torrid campaign conceded by Saints.
That almost became 79 when Fullkrug headed in a James Ward-Prowse corner at the far post, but the striker’s forearm into the throat of Ramsdale ensured it was rightly chalked off.
Saints’ chances of a point looked to have disappeared along with the ball after substitute Tyler Dibling blazed over.
But in the fourth minute of added time Dibling found Walker-Peters, whose cross deflected off Max Kilman and was lashed home by Ugochukwu.
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner hailed his players for writing a new chapter in Crystal Palace’s history following their 1-0 FA Cup triumph over Manchester City.Eberechi Eze’s 16th-minute goal and Dean Henderson’s penalty save paved the way for Palace to land their first major trophy and a spot in the Europa League next season.“We said before the game that we wanted t...
Pep Guardiola was unhappy about Dean Henderson’s time wasting in Manchester City’s FA Cup final defeat – but the Spaniard refused to be drawn on whether the Crystal Palace goalkeeper should have been sent off.An angry Guardiola exchanged words with Henderson after the final whistle following City’s 1-0 loss at Wembley, which leaves them without a trophy this season and stil...
Airdrieonians secured their place in the Scottish Championship for another season as they beat Cove Rangers 2-1 on aggregate in their play-off final after a 0-0 second-leg draw at Excelsior Stadium.The early stages saw Lewis McGrattan bring a good save out of Cove goalkeeper Nicholas Suman, before counterpart Cade Melrose did well at the other end as he blocked Adam Emslie’s shot with his fo...
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East Kilbride won promotion to Scottish League Two for the first time and sent Bonnyrigg Rose down after a 0-0 draw at New Dundas Park saw the visitors triumph 3-1 on aggregate.Bonnyrigg goalkeeper Paddy Martin did well to keep out a Joao Balde strike in the 24th minute, before Aaron Arnott fired over at the other end.Kerr Young was unable to make the most of two chances for the hosts midway throu...
Carlo Ancelotti's future as the new Brazil manager is in serious danger as the five-time World Cup winners have been warned they could be expelled from the 2026 competition.Ancelotti had been announced as the new Brazil manager for the upcoming World Cup campaign, joining after the season with Real Madrid comes to an end.Since then, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) risks being barred fro...
Manchester United have already decided they will not sack Ruben Amorim if they lose the Europa League final.The Red Devils face Tottenham in Bilbao on Wednesday night with a chance for silverware and Champions League football next season on offer to salvage their dire campaign.Amorim took over in November and has overseen United's lowest finish in 50 years, but his future appears to be safe for th...
WHAT HAPPENED?Muller featured in Bayern's convincing 4-0 win over Hoffenheim at the PreZero Arena, marking the end of his domestic league journey with the Bavarian giants. Despite stepping away from the German top-flight, Muller has yet to announce where his career will head next. At 35, the attacking midfielder remains committed to continuing his playing days, but he emphasised that he's in no ru...
Muller future 'still up in the air' as Bayern career endsThomas Muller remains undecided on his future after playing his final Bayern Munich game amid several MLS links.Sane 'doesn't want to accept' Bayern's €10m salary offerBayern Munich chief Max Eberl says Leroy Sane "doesn't want to accept" their contract offer as fears grow over a summer exit.Newcastle show interest in Bayern star SaneN...
Jim Goodwin paid tribute to his dogged Dundee United side following the 2-1 comeback win over Aberdeen which clinched fourth place and a European spot.The Terrors, who returned to the William Hill Premiership this season, had lost their four post-split matches going into the final fixture against the Dons, who were two points ahead and looking in fine fettle when Danish attacker Jeppe Okkels score...
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- 2 Man Utd are losing the feeling of being a massive club – Ruben Amorim
- 3 We will see – no Unai Emery assurances over future of tearful Emiliano Martinez
- 4 Leyton Orient book Wembley date by beating Stockport on penalties
- 5 Liverpool cleared to complete signing
- 6 Brendan Rodgers hits out at ‘needless challenge’ on Reo Hatate
- 7 Mat Sadler hails Walsall’s ‘fighting performance’ after win in play-off first leg
- 8 David Gray thanks Hibernian board for showing faith in him after securing third
- 9 Airdrieonians earn first-leg lead over Cove in play-offs
- 10 Flick lauds Yamal, as Barca nears title