Southampton’s relegation from the Premier League has finally been confirmed after a crushing 3-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur, leaving them with no chance of survival in the top flight. This defeat marked a painful milestone as the Saints became the first team in Premier League history to be relegated with seven matches still left to play. With a mere 10 points from 31 games, Southampton are on course to finish with one of the worst records in Premier League history, with their next goal being to avoid surpassing Derby County’s record low of just 11 points set in the 2007-08 season.
Manager Ivan Juric, who was brought in to turn the club’s fortunes around after the dismissal of Russell Martin in December, has had little success, overseeing just one win in 14 matches since his appointment. Southampton now sit 22 points adrift of safety, with Wolves, who currently occupy 17th place, 12 points ahead. Despite their struggles, Juric has made it clear that he and the club must remain focused on the final games of the season. When asked about his future, Juric, whose contract includes a break clause, responded: “No, now we will see everything…We are thinking just about the games now. We will see what everyone thinks, what I think. The fans deserve much more and we have to understand all of the mistakes we have made and then create something really strong.”
The season’s trajectory has been disappointing from the outset. Southampton suffered a dreadful start, losing eight of their first nine games. By the time Juric took over, the team was already nine points adrift of safety, and they have since slipped further into the relegation zone. The Saints have now matched the record for the fewest points after 31 games in Premier League history, level with the 10 points accumulated by Derby County in 2007-08 and Sunderland in 2005-06. However, their 74 goals conceded is the highest in the league by far, and their total of just 23 goals scored places them as the lowest scorers across all four divisions of English football.
Speaking after the defeat, Juric acknowledged the gravity of the situation, stressing that avoiding the record for the worst Premier League season ever remains a priority. “We have to avoid that record, do our best. It cannot happen,” he said, emphasizing the need to improve despite the dire circumstances. Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, who has experienced relegation twice before with Bournemouth and Sheffield United, shared a similar sentiment, expressing the team’s determination to finish the season with dignity. “We want to get as many points as we can until the end of the season. No one wants that record and we will do what we can – but we will do what we can to get more points on the board.”
Ramsdale also highlighted the emotional toll relegation has had on the squad, particularly for those experiencing it for the first time. “Some [players] are experiencing relegation for the first time, so there will be a lot of emotions from them over the next few days,” he said. “The lads who have been here before, we have to try to pick the young boys up. This group did incredible things last season. Nobody will want to jump ship with seven games to go. We are tight and we have just got to pull each other through now.”
Saints captain Jan Bednarek, who has been one of the few consistent performers this season, echoed his teammates’ resolve. “We can’t change the past, the only thing we can do in the last seven games is to enjoy being in the Premier League,” he said. “We have to improve as players and as a club. Hopefully, we are going to build something great. The best thing is that we can learn, we can work hard, and we can improve.”
Despite the inevitable nature of their relegation, Southampton remain determined to make the most of their final games in the Premier League. With seven matches left, they are focused on avoiding further embarrassment and ensuring they don’t break Derby County’s unfortunate record. Whether they can salvage any pride from this disastrous campaign remains to be seen, but the team’s efforts to finish the season on a positive note will likely be their only solace in what has been a season to forget.
