Aston Villa Officially Relegates From The English Premier League

Former European champions Aston Villa had their fate confirmed and were relegated from the Premier League with a ninth straight defeat on Saturday as north-east rivals Sunderland and Newcastle United both won to boost their battle against the drop.

Villa, who had not been relegated since the Premier League began in 1992, had their fate finally sealed when they lost 1-0 at Manchester United where teenager Marcus Rashford scored the only goal in the first half.

Villa, who have only won three of their 34 league matches, have 16 points and have long seemed condemned to finishing bottom and falling out of the top flight for the first time since 1988.

Villa had won only one of their last 40 league matches against United and there was never any indication they were going to improve on that woeful record.

The only goal came from Rashford, who took his tally to seven goals in his 12th United appearance with a well-taken shot after 32 minutes.