CARDIFF, United Kingdom (AFP) - Cardiff City have been relegated from the Premier League after slumping to a 3-2 defeat against Crystal Palace on Saturday (May 4).
Neil Warnock's side needed a win to have a realistic chance of beating the drop on the last day of the season, but they were out-classed by Palace at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Third bottom Cardiff are four points behind Brighton with only one game remaining, ensuring they will join already relegated Huddersfield and Fulham in the second tier next season.
The Bluebirds will make an immediate return to the Championship after last season's promotion, their fate sealed by a dismal run of nine defeats in their last 11 league games.
It won't be a season fondly remembered by Cardiff, with their relegation coming after the tragic death of striker Emiliano Sala, who died in a plane crash en route to Wales before he had even played a game for the club.
"They've tried hard. We've shown limitations today and that's why we are where we are," Warnock said.
"But the club's arrived again now. It's alive and kicking and that's the main thing. When we first came here it was almost gone.
"I'm really proud of what we've done. It could have been a little bit closer, but things were out of hand."
Warnock's name was chanted by Cardiff fans despite the loss, but it remains to be seen if the 70-year-old returns for the Championship promotion bid next term.
In a painful twist, Cardiff were pushed towards relegation by Palace winger Wilfried Zaha, who spent time on loan with Cardiff when they last dropped out of the Premier League in 2014.
The Ivory Coast international, booed by Cardiff fans, gave an influential display on his return to south Wales and fired Palace in front from the edge of the area in the 28th minute.
Martin Kelly gifted Cardiff a lifeline three minutes later when the Palace defender tried to cut out Leandro Bacuna's cross but instead diverted the ball into his own net when he could have left it for goalkeeper Vicente Guaita to collect.
Kelly's blunder did little to ease Cardiff's obvious anxiety and on-loan Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi restored Palace's lead when he punished sloppy marking with a clinical close-range finish in the 40th minute.
Andros Townsend effectively confirmed Cardiff's relegation in the 70th minute with a low drive that went in via the woodwork and Bobby Reid's 90th minute curler was no consolation for the beleaguered hosts.
The Tunisian side were leading 1-0 in the second leg of the final and 2-1 overall when play was halted, and after a 90-minute delay the referee awarded the match to the home side.
Tunisian club win African title after final abandoned over VAR
Ryan Giggs has responded to Zlatan Ibrahimovic's criticism of the Class of 92 by insisting players with "over 2,000 games between us" are entitled to have an opinion about Manchester United.
Giggs hits back after Zlatan criticism of Man Utd 'Class of
worldsoccertalk.com/2019/03/19/giggs-hits-back-after-zlatan-criticism-of-man-utd-class-of-92/
Giggs hits back after Zlatan criticism of Man Utd 'Class of 92' AFP March 19, 2019 AFP No Comments London (AFP) - Ryan Giggs has responded to Zlatan Ibrahimovic's criticism of the "Class of 92" by insisting players with "over 2,000 games between us" are entitled to have an opinion about Manchester United.
Ryan Giggs hits back at Zlatan Ibrahimovic over Class of 92
Mourinho heading back to the Bernabeu. Santiago Solari is set to be sacked imminently with Jose Mourinho to be confirmed as the next Real Madrid boss according to reports in Spain. Mourinho returning to the Bernabeu has been brewing for some time now.
Man Utd should sack Jose Mourinho for Real Madrid legend
Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, and Liverpool will reportedly go head-to-head in a bid to sign Ajax star Hakim Ziyech. The 26 year-old Moroccan playmaker has been linked with a move to the Premier League following his recent rise. Ziyech
The Premier League is Not, in Fact, a League - World Soccer Talk
worldsoccertalk.com/2009/03/15/the-premier-league-is-not-in-fact-a-league/
Those of us round long enough to remember the Ipswichs, Blackburns and QPRs of old running rampant in the early days of the Premier League may have winced listening to Setanta's commentators gag with delight as Dossena's lobbed long ball made it Liverpool 4, Manchester United 1.
The Sports Football News page - Rediff.com
Manchester City will have had an incredible season irrespective of their trophy haul according to Pep Guardiola, who described his players as "my heroes" after they booked a place in the FA Cup final.
Pep Guardiola hails derby heroes as Manchester City moved
Football: Man City's Sterling treated differently by British media, says Pogba Manchester City's Raheem Sterling poses for a selfie with fans before a match. PHOTO: REUTERS
Man City's Sterling treated differently by British media
Atletico Madrid left it late to see off Girona 2-0 at home on Tuesday as strikes from Diego Godin and Antoine Griezmann. The win kept up their faint hopes of catching La Liga leaders FC Barcelona. Team captain Godin broke the deadlock in the 76th minute with the help of the Video Assistant Referee
Football: Young Lions beaten, but not discouraged, after SPL loss to Home United Young Lions' Joshua Pereira (right) reacts after scoring a goal against Home United in the Singapore Premier
Kaya v Lao Toyota - spreaker.com
A welcome could either cheer them up or make them leave the event and rather have cozy sleep at home. Martin Luther King, in 1943, delivered a speech "I have a dream" and that still doesn't fail to inspire people. Short Welcome Speech Samples To Address any Event. Image Source
How to Write a Welcome Aboard Letter With Examples
Guardiola coy on quadruple bid. Pep Guardiola remains coy about Manchester City's chances of winning the quadruple, but his side face Swansea in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday standing
Pep Guardiola coy on Quadruple talk after Man City squeeze
Liverpool title bid hit by Matip injury. Agence-France Presse. 12 December 2018. Reblog. Share. Tweet. Share. Liverpool defender Joel Matip has been ruled out for up to six weeks. More.
0 comments:
Post a Comment