Premier League: Southampton nearly safe, West Brom down

Swansea City 0 Southampton 1

Southampton are within touching distance of Premier League safety after a 1-0 victory against Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium last night.

Substitute Manolo Gabbiadini scored after 72 minutes and the winning goal means Mark Hughes’s team are almost safe as they have a superior goal difference over relegation rivals Huddersfield Town and Swansea.

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The defeat leaves Swansea three points adrift of Huddersfield, who play their game in hand at Chelsea tonight. The Swans are on 33 points with a goal difference of -27 while Huddersfield have 36 points and a goal difference of -29. Southampton are also on 36 points but have a goal difference of -18.

Speaking to the BBC after the game Hughes said: “It was a big performance from us. I came in late to proceedings and needed to get a reaction out of players who had maybe lost their way somewhat.

“I have to say, since I’ve come in they’ve worked hard and, even when results went against us, never diminished belief. It is not mathematically certain. We had to come here and we had to win. If we had not won [against Swansea] it would have been very, very difficult for us.

“It is not done yet but we have put ourselves in the position where we have a great chance to stay up.”

Baggies down

While Southampton celebrated victory last night, the result at Swansea means that West Bromwich Albion’s relegation was confirmed. Despite a superb run under caretaker boss Darren Moore the Baggies’ fate was out of their hands and their eight-season stay in the top flight is now over.

On Twitter West Brom defender Kieran Gibbs said: “Horrible feeling to be relegated, especially after our recent form as a team. It’s been a wild season on and off the pitch and has been a huge learning curve.

“Whatever has gone on this season there are no excuses - we haven’t been good enough for the majority of it. For that we are sorry to the WBA fans, who have been quite unbelievable considering the circumstances.”

Relegation permutations: who can go still down?

With Stoke City and now West Brom consigned to Championship football next season, the final relegation spot will be between Swansea, Huddersfield and Southampton.

For Huddersfield to stay up they just need a point against Chelsea tonight or against Arsenal on Sunday, the last day of the season.

Swansea need to beat Stoke City in their final match of the season and hope Huddersfield lose their last two matches. Swansea can also stay up if they beat Stoke and Southampton lose heavily to champions Manchester City - but there has to be a ten-goal swing.

Premier League fixtures: remaining matches

Tonight

• Chelsea vs. Huddersfield Town (7.45pm, live on Sky Sports)
• Leicester City vs. Arsenal (7.45pm)
• Manchester City vs. Brighton & Hove Albion (8pm)
• Tottenham Hotspur vs. Newcastle United (8pm)

Tomorrow

• West Ham United vs. Manchester United (7.45pm, live on Sky Sports)

Sunday 13 May (3pm kick-off)

• Burnley vs. AFC Bournemouth
• Crystal Palace vs. West Bromwich Albion
• Huddersfield Town vs. Arsenal
• Liverpool vs. Brighton & Hove Albion
• Manchester United vs. Watford
• Newcastle United vs. Chelsea
• Southampton vs. Manchester City
• Swansea City vs. Stoke City
• Tottenham Hotspur vs. Leicester City
• West Ham United vs. Everton