Swansea relegated after defeat by Stoke

Swansea City’s relegation from the Premier League was confirmed with defeat by Championship-bound Stoke as emotions ran high at the Liberty Stadium.

Needing to beat the Potters and hope Southampton were thrashed by Manchester City – with a 10-goal swing in the Swans’ favour – to keep alive their faint hopes of staying up, the hosts took an early lead through Andy King.

That goal lightened the mood after Swansea fans’ demonstrations had fuelled an atmosphere of anger and revolt, only for Badou Ndiaye’s lob and Peter Crouch’s header to put Stoke ahead.

That prompted the Swans fans to reignite their hostilities towards chairman Huw Jenkins and the club’s American majority shareholders Steve Kaplan and Jason Levien, all three of whom were absent.

The two sides’ relegations made for a day of mixed feelings – and unexpected humour – at the Liberty Stadium, with both sets of supporters singing self-deprecating songs together as they prepared for life in the Championship.

Whereas Stoke’s relegation had already been rubber-stamped, there was still the dimmest prospect Swansea could stay up – but that disappeared as the Potters ended their own miserable season on something of a high.

Swansea’s end of an era

Swansea have been the architects of their own downfall, having flirted with relegation for the past few seasons and failed to learn the lessons from their previous – and often fortuitous – escapes.

Despite an initial revival under Carlos Carvalhal – appointed in December with the Swans bottom of the table – their recent form has been dismal, now winless in their past nine Premier League games and scoring just three goals in the process.

As a result, the Portuguese manager’s contract will not be renewed when it expires this summer but, according to large swathes of Swansea fans, the club needs change at a higher level.

The Swansea City Supporters’ Trust, which owns a 21.1% stake in the club, has called for Jenkins to resign, while fans at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday voiced their anger towards him, his fellow directors and the club’s American owners.

As well as fury, there was also a sense of melancholy as the Swans said farewell to two club legends and their longest-serving players – Leon Britton and Angel Rangel.

The latter captained the side in only his second league start of the season but his 374th appearance for the club, while midfielder Britton came off the bench to represent the Swans for a 537th and final time.

A chance to show their appreciation for those two Swansea icons gave the afternoon a more conciliatory feel, though the overriding emotion for home fans was one of hurt and frustration as their club’s seven-season stay in the Premier League ended.

Stoke revel in gallows humour

Stoke were coming to terms with relegation after an even longer period in the top flight but, having long been resigned to their fate, the Potters’ fans turned to gallows humour in attempt to raise spirits.

After an obliging Stoke defence allowed King to neatly roll in Swansea’s opener, the visiting fans joined forces with the home crowd to sing “Going down”.

The travelling Potters supporters even chanted for the Swans to score the 10 goals to stay up, as it meant former Stoke manager Mark Hughes would be relegated with Southampton.

It was all a far cry from the relegation post-mortem of recent days when, like Swansea, Stoke had been in a state of deep self-reflection, with the owners and players delivering withering verdicts about where the season had gone wrong.

And, like Swansea, Stoke must now consider how they rebuild in the Championship, hoping to return to the Premier League sooner than many relegated sides have managed in recent seasons.

Man of the match – Badou Ndiaye

‘I will make the right decision’ – what they said

Swansea manager Carlos Carvalhal told BBC Sport: “In my opinion, the few points that the team achieved in the first part of the season sent us down.

“When I arrived we had 13 points. In 18 games, we got 20 points. The beginning of the season was not good. We tried to recover. Me and my players were on the limits, we did the maximum that we could.

“Getting 20 points was very good, not fantastic. Over the whole season it would have been enough to finish around 13th.

“I’m only here for four months, so I can’t talk about the structure of the club. I’m not the best person to talk about that.

“I talked with the owners yesterday. We will talk again on Monday. I will think about Swansea and myself. I must talk with my family. After that I will make the right decision about my future.”

Stoke City manager Paul Lambert to BBC Sport: “You look at the fanbase that we have behind us, it was good for them. There were a lot of good things. The effort and I’ve seen everything I’ve asked for, the lads have given me it.

“Fifteen games is never long enough. There were things wrong, without a doubt. I did what I think is right. We drew games that we should have won. A little bit more quality across the top and we wouldn’t be in this position. Effort, I can’t ask for any more.

“I’m sure the club will know what’s wrong and what is right. With that fanbase behind you, you have a chance.

“There’s a core of players, but there’s a turnaround that needs to happen. It’s a really good core, if they have the right players that want to be at the club. I’m sure the club will learn from what has happened this year.”

 

BBCSPORTS