Sunderland’s 10-year stay in the Premier League ended with defeat against Bournemouth at the Stadium of Light.
The result coupled with Hull City’s draw at Southampton means David Moyes’ side are 14 points from safety with four games left.
Bournemouth’s Joshua King scored the only goal with just two minutes left, tapping home from Ryan Fraser’s pass.
The Norwegian also came close in the 20th minute but his shot rebounded off the post and crossbar and into the arms of Jordan Pickford.
Artur Boruc saved from Jermain Defoe in the first half, and Fabio Borini and George Honeyman in the second, but the Black Cats failed to sustain any real pressure on the Bournemouth goal.
The defeat, Sunderland’s 23rd of the season, means the Black Cats are relegated from the Premier League for a joint-record fourth time.
Sorry season for Sunderland
Little has gone right for Sunderland ever since Sam Allardyce – who saved the club from relegation last season with just one defeat in their final 10 games – was named England manager in late July.[3]
Moyes was named as his replacement a day later but, in now well-known comments, told the fans to expect a relegation battle[4] after just two games of the season.
The Scot was left with little time to bring in summer recruits but those he did bring in – the majority his former players at Manchester United and Everton – have disappointed.
Their first win did not come until November but they followed it with three victories in their next six games in a brief glimmer of success, largely built around Defoe’s goals.
But since then Sunderland have won just once in 17 games and Defoe is without a goal in 10 club games.
Black Cats’ fans have grown increasingly frustrated at Moyes’ results, and what they consider his negative attitude and demeanour throughout the season, with chants for him to leave being heard in recent weeks.
More to follow
Line-ups
Sunderland
- 13Pickford
- 22Love
- 23Koné
- 16O’Shea
- 21Manquillo
- 17Ndong
- 9BoriniBooked at 76mins
- 20PienaarBooked at 46minsSubstituted forHoneymanat 55′minutes
- 10KhazriBooked at 78mins
- 28Anichebe
- 18Defoe
Substitutes
- 1Mannone
- 5Djilobodji
- 15Lescott
- 39Honeyman
- 40Embleton
- 44Januzaj
- 46Gooch
Bournemouth
- 1Boruc
- 15Smith
- 2Francis
- 3Cook
- 11Daniels
- 24FraserSubstituted forGradelat 90′minutes
- 8ArterBooked at 76mins
- 18CookBooked at 33mins
- 7PughSubstituted forMoussetat 82′minutes
- 17King
- 9AfobeSubstituted forStanislasat 57′minutes
Substitutes
- 10Gradel
- 14Smith
- 19Stanislas
- 21Allsop
- 26Mings
- 31Mousset
- 33Ibe
- Referee:
- Stuart Attwell
- Attendance:
- 38,394
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home41%
- Away59%
- Shots
- Home17
- Away15
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away7
- Corners
- Home6
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away9
Live Text
Match ends, Sunderland 0, Bournemouth 1.
Full Time
Second Half ends, Sunderland 0, Bournemouth 1.
Foul by Lys Mousset (Bournemouth).
George Honeyman (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, Bournemouth. Max Gradel replaces Ryan Fraser.
Ryan Fraser (Bournemouth) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by George Honeyman (Sunderland).
Goal!
Goal! Sunderland 0, Bournemouth 1. Joshua King (Bournemouth) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Ryan Fraser following a fast break.
Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Steve Cook.
Attempt missed. Jermain Defoe (Sunderland) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Lamine Koné with a headed pass following a set piece situation.
Foul by Lys Mousset (Bournemouth).
Donald Love (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Offside, Sunderland. Donald Love tries a through ball, but Jermain Defoe is caught offside.
Attempt saved. Donald Love (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Attempt blocked. Lamine Koné (Sunderland) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Charlie Daniels.
Attempt missed. Victor Anichebe (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Adam Smith.
Substitution
Substitution, Bournemouth. Lys Mousset replaces Marc Pugh.
Foul by Joshua King (Bournemouth).
Didier Ndong (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Offside, Sunderland. Victor Anichebe tries a through ball, but Wahbi Khazri is caught offside.
Booking
Wahbi Khazri (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card.
Corner, Bournemouth. Conceded by Didier Ndong.
Booking
Harry Arter (Bournemouth) is shown the yellow card.
Booking
Fabio Borini (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Lewis Cook (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Fabio Borini (Sunderland).
Marc Pugh (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Donald Love (Sunderland).
Adam Smith (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Victor Anichebe (Sunderland).
Foul by Simon Francis (Bournemouth).
Victor Anichebe (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Attempt missed. Marc Pugh (Bournemouth) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Adam Smith with a cross.
Offside, Sunderland. John O’Shea tries a through ball, but Javier Manquillo is caught offside.
Artur Boruc (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Fabio Borini (Sunderland).
Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Simon Francis.
Attempt saved. George Honeyman (Sunderland) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Fabio Borini.
References
- ^ Relive Sunderland 0-1 Bournemouth (www.bbc.co.uk)
- ^ Reaction to all of Saturday’s games (www.bbc.co.uk)
- ^ named England manager in late July. (www.bbc.co.uk)
- ^ told the fans to expect a relegation battle (www.bbc.co.uk)
- ^ Line-ups (www.bbc.co.uk)
- ^ Match Stats (www.bbc.co.uk)
- ^ Live Text (www.bbc.co.uk)
