Southampton relegated as Man Utd close on CL spot
Southampton were relegated from the Premier League on Saturday, while Manchester United edged closer to a return to the Champions League next season with a 2-0 win over Wolves. Newcastle remain ahead of United on goal difference in third after being held 2-2 in a pulsating game as Sam Allardyce picked up his first point as Leeds manager. Erik ten Hag's United side had won just two of their previous eight games from open play in all competitions, but they shrugged off the absence of Marcus Rashford due to injury for a vital three points. "We had to bounce back," said Ten Hag. "We had two big defeats (in their previous two games), individual mistakes, we had no energy and played slow. Today we had to win and we did it." Scoring goals has been a problem for the Red Devils of late but Antony squared for Anthony Martial to slam home on 32 minutes. Alejandro Garnacho then came off the bench to secure the points deep into stoppage time. Newcastle and Manchester United are now four points clear of fifth-placed Liverpool with three games to go. Leeds secured a point at Elland Road but did not do enough to move out of the relegation zone. Luke Ayling gave Allardyce's men a flying start, but they missed the chance to extend their lead when Patrick Bamford missed from the penalty spot then handed Newcastle two penalties of their own, both of which were converted by Callum Wilson.   Rasmus Kristensen's deflected effort brought Leeds level again 11 minutes from time. Leeds close to within one point of safety, but that gap could grow if Everton shock leaders Manchester City on Sunday. Nottingham Forest remain three points clear of the relegation zone after their own four-goal thriller at Chelsea ended 2-2. Meanwhile, Southampton's 11-year stay in the Premier League is over after a meek 2-0 home defeat by Fulham summed up the Saints' season. Carlos Vinicius and Aleksandar Mitrovic, on his return from an eight-game ban for pushing a referee, got the goals which moved Fulham up to ninth. "It's disappointing, it's a moment that has been coming," said Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse. "As a club, have decisions been right? Have we done enough on the pitch? I believe we should be better." In the battle for a place in the Europa League next season, Aston Villa beat Tottenham 2-1 to move level on points with Spurs in sixth. Eberechi Eze scored twice as Crystal Palace continued their revival under Roy Hodgson with a 2-0 win over Bournemouth. (AFP)