Swansea City vs Stoke City. Premier League.
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Sunday 13 May 2018 20:12, UK
Swansea's relegation to the Sky Bet Championship was confirmed as they slipped to a 2-1 home defeat to already-relegated Stoke City on Sunday.
The Swans came into the final day clash needed a win and a 10-goal swing with Southampton to survive relegation but the great escape never even came close to materialising.
Andy King slid Swansea in front (14) but Paul Lambert's side struck back before the break through Badou Ndiaye (31) and Peter Crouch (41).
Xherdan Shaqiri also missed a penalty for Stoke, whose victory mean they finish the season with their first win in 14 Premier League games.
For Swansea, their relegation ends a run of seven successive seasons in the Premier League.
In Premier League history only two teams have ever survived when entering the final round of fixtures three points from safety but Swansea gave their fans hope with an early goal.
Andre Ayew flicked a ball over Ryan Shawcross and King waltzed through before sliding a tidy finish into the bottom corner.
Half-chances then fell to Wayne Routledge and King - but both were spurned which never gave Swansea the momentum they were looking for.
Eventually, it was Stoke that struck on 31 minutes. With the Swansea defence pushing up, Shaqiri lifted the ball through for Ndiaye, who skilfully lofted the ball over Lukasz Fabianski.
Swansea's balloon was now very much burst and Crouch headed Stoke in front just before the break.
Teenage debutant Lasse Sorensen curled a delicious set-piece into the danger zone and Crouch was on hand to power home his 199th goal of his career.
Swansea threw on Leon Brittan for his 461st and final appearance for the club before his retirement - and his influence improved the side.
Andre Ayew somehow managed to miss from five yards out when his goalbound effort hit team-mate Tammy Abraham on the goal-line and away to safety.
Jack Butland came to Stoke's rescue on a couple of occasions in closing stages, denying Andre Ayew and Sam Clucas as Swansea wastefulness in front of goal haunted them once again.
The midfielder has attempted more shots and completed more successful dribbles and tackles than any Stoke team-mate since his Premier League debut in February - and he will have plenty of top-flight suitors over the summer judging by this latest showing. He took his goal - his second of his Stoke career - with real class and a force in midfield throughout.
"The owners called me yesterday about the possibilities of next season," he said.
"We will speak again on Monday - at this moment I will have reflections about myself, the club. After, I will make a decision. As you understand, it's very early to talk about that.
"I will talk with my agent. I was happy with the conversations yesterday. I must think about my life, talk about it with my family and make the best decision.
"This club is very special - they deserve to be in the Premier League as soon as possible."
"I love the club but what happens next week I don't know," Lambert said ahead of expected talks with Stoke owner Peter Coates about his future.
"Football is a great game for one day you're there and the next day you're away.
"But I could not have done any more, I gave it everything, and the support has been right behind us.
"The chairman said a couple of weeks ago that I was [staying] but whether that remains we'll wait and see."
