Newcastle, Middlesbrough vow to come back stronger after timidly losing relegation battles on the final day
Newcastle, Middlesbrough vow to come back stronger after timidly losing relegation battles on the final dayNewcastle became the biggest Premier League casualties since Leeds dropped out of the top flight five years ago after a final-day defeat at Aston Villa condemned Alan Shearer's side to relegation yesterday.
The Magpies will be joined in the Championship next season by local rivals Middlesbrough, whose last chance of beating the drop disappeared with a 2-1 defeat at West Ham.
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Newcastle United fans watch dejectedly as their side is relegated after a last-day loss to Aston Villa at Villa Park yesterday |
Newcastle and Boro's misery ensured huge relief for both Sunderland and Hull.
They also lost their final matches but managed to cling on to their top-flight status thanks to the failure of their rivals to snatch the lifeline on offer to them.
Big changesShearer said he would decide whether to continue as Newcastle boss following talks with club owner Mike Ashley next week before voicing his frustration over everything that has happened at St James' Park this season.
"We haven't been relegated because of what happened today. We have gone down because of has happened over 38 games," the former England striker said. "Big changes need to be made at the club."
Boro boss Gareth Southgate has been assured his job is safe.
"This last six months has been very hard but you have to go through these painful things to come out stronger and better," he said. "Tonight we'll grieve for what has happened but tomorrow we'll come out fighting."
Other resultsArsenal 4 - Stoke 1
Blackburn 0 - West Brom 0
Fulham 0 - Everton 2
Hull 0 Man Utd 1
Liverpool 3 - Tottenham 1
Man City 1 - Bolton 0
Sunderland 2 - Chelsea 3
Wigan 1 - Portsmouth 0
