Sunderland relegated, Vardy makes Leicester safe

LONDON: David Moyes’s sorry Sunderland were relegated from the Premier League after a 1-0 home defeat by Bournemouth at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

Allied to Hull City’s 0-0 draw at Southampton, the result left Sunderland 13 points adrift of safety with only 12 points to play for this season.

Josh King scored the goal that condemned Sunderland to the Championship, converting a pass from Ryan Fraser after a sweeping counter-attack in the 88th minute.

Southampton had a chance to give Sunderland a stay of execution, but Dusan Tadic’s stoppage-time penalty was saved by Hull goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic.

Sunderland have been in the Premier League since 2007, but their return to the second-tier Championship has long appeared only a matter of time.

They have been in the relegation zone since September and have not moved off the foot of the table since January.

Victory effectively secured Bournemouth’s safety, catapulting Eddie Howe’s side up the table to 10th place, 10 points above the relegation zone.

Hull’s draw at Southampton left Marco Silva’s side three points clear of danger, ahead of third-bottom Swansea City’s trip to Manchester United on Sunday (today).

After a forgettable encounter at St Mary’s, Southampton were awarded a penalty at the death after Alfred N’Diaye was penalised for holding Maya Yoshida.

Tadic drilled his spot-kick towards the bottom-right corner, but Jakupovic plunged low to his left to turn the ball away and condemn Sunderland to the drop.

With Stoke City and West Ham United also drawing 0-0, the only other goal in the four afternoon games came in outgoing champions Leicester City’s 1-0 victory at West Bromwich Albion.

Jamie Vardy settled the game in the 43rd minute, rifling home his 15th goal of the season from Shinji Okazaki’s pass down the inside-right channel.

After an arduous season for Leicester, last season’s fairytale champions have now reached the 40-point mark that usually guarantees survival.

Vardy’s recent form has been in sharp contrast to that of Midlands rivals West Brom, who have now failed to score in five successive league games for the first time in their history.

Saturday’s match started at a frantic pace with Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel forced to make an important catch in the opening minute when Salomon Rondon headed an Allan Nyom cross back across goal.

Leicester broke to the other end with Vardy catching Gareth McAuley in possession to force a corner which the visitors could not turn into a chance.

In the sixth minute, Wilfred Ndidi tried his luck for Leicester from long range but his effort was deflected wide by Jake Livermore.

Twelve minutes later, Leicester needed Schmeichel at his acrobatic best to tip over a header from Chris Brunt.

West Brom’s ex-Leicester defender McAuley was then left wearing a bandage after a nasty clash of heads with Yohan Benalouane.

Leicester claimed the lead two minutes from half time thanks to the opportunism of their front two.

Rondon played a suicidal square pass which was intercepted by Shinji Okazaki, who found strike partner Vardy with a superb, first-time ball.

The England man kept his composure to beat goalkeeper Ben Foster with a firm shot.

West Brom forced two corners in stoppage time but both came to nothing with the second one glanced wide by Rondon.

Leicester might have doubled their lead two minutes into the second half when Albion were again undone by the pace of Vardy.

He tore down the left and crossed for Okazaki, who was arriving late at the far post. But the Japanese striker could not stretch far enough to force the ball home.

Brunt had a shot charged down and Claudio Yacob sent the follow-up just wide as West Brom pressed for an equaliser.

West Brom went even closer when Craig Dawson met a Nacer Chadli corner with a firm header but his effort took a deflection and looped over.

Leicester had another opportunity to increase their advantage just before the hour mark when Riyad Mahrez cut in from the right but fired into the side netting.

James Morrison then headed straight at Schmeichel from a cross by substitute James McClean as the hosts threw everything at Leicester in the closing stages.