Burnley were relegated from the Premier League on Saturday despite winning 1-0 at fellow strugglers Hull City, which left them seven points from safety with only two games remaining.
Promoted from the Championship last season, Burnley gave themselves hope of avoiding the drop by stunning defending champions Manchester City 1-0 in March, but they subsequently went six games without winning, losing five.
Danny Ings stopped the rot with a 62nd-minute winner at the KC Stadium, crashing home left-footed after Hull failed to clear a corner to end a 1,036-minute goal drought for Sean Dyche’s side, but it was to no avail.
“They have been written off from the start by so many — their resilience has been fantastic,” said Burnley manager Dyche. “We did what we had to do today, but we have not done it enough over the course of the season.
“Of course relegation is disappointing, but I believe we’re in decent shape to bounce straight back.”
It is the second time Burnley have been relegated from the Premier League a season after securing promotion, having previously met the same fate in 2009-10.
Ings added: “The lads have fought until the end, and I’m extremely proud of them.”
The result dragged Hull into the relegation zone and left Steve Bruce’s side two points from safety ahead of their thorny final fixtures away to Tottenham Hotspur and at home to Manchester United.
Burnley went down despite moving above Queens Park Rangers, who are on the brink of slipping into the second tier as they are nine points adrift of safety ahead of their trip to Manchester City on Sunday.
Newcastle United skidded closer to the relegation zone despite halting an eight-game losing streak — the club’s worst sequence since 1977 — by drawing 1-1 at home to West Bromwich Albion.
Victor Anichebe headed West Brom in front in the 32nd minute, but Newcastle striker Ayoze Perez equalised nine minutes later by gathering a free-kick from Ryan Taylor and finding the bottom-right corner with his left foot.
“I thought we deserved more. I thought we were the only side trying to win the game,” said Newcastle manager John Carver, whose side visit QPR before hosting West Ham United on the season’s final day.
“The proof was in the pudding today. I saw the fight and the desire to keep this team in the Premier League.”
Newcastle are now one place and two points above the bottom three, level on points with local rivals Sunderland, who won 2-0 at Everton courtesy of scrappy second-half efforts from Danny Graham and Jermain Defoe.
It was Sunderland’s first away win since a 1-0 success at Newcastle on December 21.
Leicester City’s stunning resurgence continued as they made it six wins from seven games with a 2-0 victory at home to Southampton that left Nigel Pearson’s side three points above danger.
Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez scored both goals in the first 19 minutes, first drilling home left-footed from the edge of the box and then slamming home a left-wing cross from Jamie Vardy.
FA Cup finalists Aston Villa also took a step closer to safety by beating West Ham 1-0 at Villa Park, with on-loan Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley scoring his third goal in three games.
Like Southampton, Tottenham do not seem particularly motivated by the prospect of qualifying for the Europa League, but they remain a point above Ronald Koeman’s men in sixth place despite crashing 3-0 at Stoke City.
Charlie Adam headed Stoke in front in the 21st minute and Steven Nzonzi exploited a mix-up between Hugo Lloris and Eric Dier to make it 2-0 before Mame Biram Diouf added a late third.
Spurs defender Vlad Chiriches was sent off early in the second period after receiving a second yellow card.
Fourth-place Manchester United can take a step closer to Champions League qualification later on Saturday when they visit Crystal Palace.
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