Onuachu, Aribo face the drop as Southampton relegation confirmed

Super Eagles duo of Paul Onuachu and Joe Aribo lost their Premier League status after Southampton fell to a 2-0 defeat at home to Fulham. The Saints have now seen their 11-year stay in the Premier League come to an end with two games to spare in the season.

Southampton have looked a side destined for the drop but they had a chance to delay the inevitable when they hosted Fulham at St. Mary’s Stadium.

Former Genk striker Onuachu was drafted in to lead the line for the Saints for only the fourth time in the Premier League since his January switch, and Aribo started on the bench.

Southampton thought they had gone ahead through impressive midfielder Carlos Alcaraz in the 47th minute, only for the assistant referee’s flag to deny the youngster. Moments later, the Saints found themselves behind.

Fulham implemented a sweeping move from their box involving a number of one-touch passes until they arrived in the Southampton box, and Carlos Vinicius tapped the ball into an empty net after industrious work from Harrison Reed to divert a clearance into his path.

Onuachu was substituted off in the 62nd minute after another below-par showing took him to 11 games without a goal or assist for Southampton, with Sekou Mara replacing the lanky striker.

Fulham star Aleksandr Mitrovic was introduced off the bench in place of goalscorer Vinicius in the 65th minute as he returned from his eight-game ban. The striker marked his return with a goal just seven minutes later as he connected to a clipped cross from Harry Wilson with a delightful diving header.

Southampton failed to find a response and fell to a defeat at home, confirming their relegation from the Premier League. Aribo was an unused substitute for the Saints and failed to add to his 20 appearances for Southampton in the competition.