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AFC Bournemouth

Two teams have Premier League relegation confirmed

Sunday saw the final day of the 2019/20 season, in which it also saw two teams have Premier League relegation confirmed along with Norwich City.

Prior to the games, there were three teams separated by three points, with almost identical goal difference and only one Premier League place available.

Two from Aston Villa, Watford and Bournemouth knew that if they slipped up, they could be joining the Canaries in the Championship next season.

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Tuesday saw Dean Smith’s side come away with a 1-0 against Arsenal to climb out of the bottom three – for the first time since late February – on goal difference, which was also helped by the Hornets’ 4-0 defeat at home by Manchester City.

Villa and Watford were three points clear of Bournemouth, setting up for an tense end.

Watford found themselves behind after 5 minutes when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored from a penalty kick that was eventually awarded by VAR when Alexandre Lacazette went down under a challenge from Craig Dawson.

Bournemouth were also given a penalty in the 14th minute after VAR checked a handball by Richarlison in the area. Joshua King stepped up and scored. The standings after 15 minutes…

Despite it being all Watford, Kieran Tierney doubled Arsenal’s lead out of nothing on the 25th minute, hitting a low shot into the bottom corner via a little deflection to get his first goal for the club.

A sucker punch for Watford followed 10 minutes later as the Gunners grabbed a third after a long throw was sent in towards the near post, players let it bounce and in came Aubameyang with an overhead kick from six yards out, making it 3-0.

Just minutes before the break, Everton got an equaliser against Bournemouth when Moise Kean got his second ever Premier League goal, a blow to Eddie Howe’s side.

At the same time, Watford were handed a penalty by Mike Dean when David Luiz brought down Danny Welbeck who stretched to get a shot away. Troy Deeney converted to give themselves a glimmer of hope.

In added time, Bournemouth got themselves back in front and it was a great goal from Jefferson Lerma, who headed home from Diego Rico’s ball sent into the box.

The half time whistles blew, and to sum up, it was good news for the Cherries, who need a West Ham goal against Villa.

HALF TIME SCORES:
Arsenal 3 – 1 Watford
Burnley 1 – 1 Brighton
Chelsea 2 – 0 Wolves
Crystal Palace 0 – 1 Tottenham
Everton 1 – 2 Bournemouth
Leicester 0 – 0 Manchester Utd
Manchester City 2 – 0 Norwich
Newcastle 1 – 1 Liverpool
Southampton 0 – 1 Sheffield Utd
West Ham 0 – 0 Aston Villa

AS IT STOOD (AT HALF TIME)

Top four: Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea, Man Utd

Fifth and sixth: Leicester, Tottenham

Going down: Bournemouth, Watford, Norwich

It was 20 minutes into the second half when the relegation battle saw another goal and it was a big one in Watford’s push for a comeback. Former Arsenal player Danny Welbeck slotted home from a few yards out.

Watford continued to try and get that all important equaliser, and they nearly did with 15 minutes remaining with a threat going forward. Another good ball in from the right from Ismaila Sarr and Welbeck was there with a backheel, which took a really got save to stop that from going in.

Just before that, Bournemouth should have extended their lead, a massive chance for Callum Wilson who was picked out inside the middle of the box unmarked but hesitates on the ball too long and Leighton Baines gets across in time to tackle.

Minutes later, it was Arsenal who should have seen out them game, when Eddie Nketiah found Aubameyang but his shot was well saved by Ben Foster.

Bouremouth finally got their third on the 80th minute, Junior Stanislas’s shot slipping under Pickford’s gloves and into the net, again they need West Ham to score to survive.

The standings with 10 minutes remaining…

There was a big goal at the London Stadium, and it was for Aston Villa in the 84th minute. John McGinn found Jack Grealish on the left of the area, he had two men on him but still managed to find space and fire in a powerful shot.

Straight from the restart, West Ham got themselves a leveller, Andriy Yarmolenko took a shot from a long way out, it took a massive deflection off of Jack Grealish and looped up, Pepe Reina was slow getting back, he couldn’t get there and the ball goes into the back of the net.

The full time whistle blew around the grounds, and there couldn’t be anymore late goals. That subsequently confirmed relegation for Watford and Bournemouth. Aston Villa are safe.

FULL TIME SCORES:
Leicester 0-2 Man United
Chelsea 2-0 Wolves
Arsenal 3-2 Watford
Man City 5-0 Norwich
Newcastle 1-3 Liverpool
Crystal Palace 1-1 Tottenham
Everton 1-3 Bournemouth
Burnley 1-2 Brighton
West Ham 1-1 Aston Villa
Southampton 3-1 Sheffield Utd

www.fanbanter.co.uk – Fan reaction to the latest football news, gossip & funnies

How it ends

Top four: Liverpool, Man City, Man Utd, Chelsea
Fifth and sixth: Leicester, Tottenham
Relegated: Bournemouth, Watford, Norwich.

Golden Boot final standings

1) Jamie Vardy – 23
2) Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 22
3) Danny Ings – 22

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe: “It hurts. I’m trying to keep it together, I’m really sad for the fans of this club. They’ve not been here for the last part of the journey and that makes it harder.

“It’s a time for refecltion, a time to see what the next step is. Everything at the club is based around staying in the Premier League and I’ll speak to the people that I need to speak to. It’s a very quick turnaround and we have to make the right decisions now.

“It’s small margins, there has been loads of moments during the season, it’s never down to one thing. As the manager I make hundreds of decisions and I haven’t been good enough this season.

“Throughout the season there are ebbs and flows, I’m not going to sit here and criticise the players in any way, I have to back them and support them. First I have to look at myslef and that I will do.

“My commitment, I can’t question. It is not down to a lack of effort. I am so sorry for the fans, you never plan not to achieve. I always wanted to bring success to the club and to play an entertaining sort of football, that’s always the aim.”

Bournemouth defender Steve Cook: “It wasn’t to be, we did our side of the bargain and when you rely on other results it’s always difficult. We showed today how good we can be and it makes you wonder what if?

“It’s extremely difficult to take, it hasn’t sunk in yet but it’s a sad day. This is the dream land and we’ve dropped out of it.

“I feel for the fans because when they come back it won’t be to Premier League football. It was in our hands last week and we therw it away.”

Aston Villa goalkeeper Pepe Reina talking to BT Sport: “It’s been hard. We never give up. Seemed impossible a few weeks ago but we kept belieiving.

“A turning point for all the lads, I have one or two years left on my career, but this is massive for the club for everyone. They are still a Premier League club.

“I am not hanging up the gloves. I still have a good two years left. I will go back to Milan because I have one more year there.”

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