Fulham, Cardiff City relegated from Premier League after suffering comprehensive defeats

FULHAM’S 13-year run in the Premier League is over after losing its penultimate game of the season, and it will be joined in the Championship by Cardiff.

FULHAM and Cardiff were relegated from the Premier League after both teams suffered defeats in their penultimate gmaes of the season, leaving them unable to reach safety.

Fulham lost 4-1 at Stoke and Cardiff was defeated 3-0 at Newcastle, leaving both teams unable to climb out of the bottom three with one match apiece remaining.

“I have to apologize for not managing the situation. The club asked me to come - I tried,” said Fulham manager Felix Magath, who was hired in February in an attempt to keep the club in the top division for a 14th straight season.

News_Rich_Media: All 21 goals from Saturday night's round 37 Premier League action.

“The thing is you can never say any player would like to see relegation, but they didn’t fight enough, especially today.”

Peter Odemwingie put Stoke ahead in the 39th minute against Fulham at the Britannia Stadium, converting from close range after Stephen Ireland's shot hit the bar.

News_Image_File: Fulham's Ashkan Dejagah leaves the pitch following defeat and relegation.

Marko Arnautovic made it 2-0 nine minutes into the second half, slamming a first-time effort into the roof of the net from Odemwingie's pass.

Further goals from Oussama Assaidi and substitute Jonathan Walters sealed Fulham's fate, with Kieran Richardson replying in vain for the visitors.

Shola Ameobi, Loic Remy and Steven Taylor scored the goals for Newcastle that condemned Cardiff to an immediate return to the second tier after their promotion from the Championship last year. Newcastle's win ended a run of six successive defeats and came despite a mass fan walkout in the 69th minute in protest at the club's management.

News_Rich_Media: Highlights of Newcastle United's 3-0 victory over Cardiff City at St James' Park.

Sebastian Larsson’s 30th-minute winner for Sunderland against Manchester United at Old Trafford means the resurgent Black Caps have picked up seven points from recent away matches at Manchester City, Chelsea and United to move three points clear of third-bottom Norwich with two matches left.

The win also took Sunderland four points above Fulham and five points clear of Cardiff, effectively sealing those clubs’ fates.

News_Image_File: Cardiff City's Aron Gunnarsson sits dejected after being defeated by Newcastle United.

United’s shock loss meant Tottenham Hotspur remained in sixth place despite a 2-0 loss at West Ham.

Spurs went down to 10 men in the 25th minute when Younes Kaboul was given a straight red card for a professional foul, before an own goal by Harry Kane and Stewart Downing’s free kick secured a victory that preserved West Ham’s Premier League status for another season.

News_Rich_Media: Highlights of West Ham United's 2-0 win over Tottenham at Upton Park.

Aston Villa is almost certain of staying up, too, after beating Hull 3-1 thanks to Ashley Westwood’s goal after 58 seconds and a pair of headers from Andreas Weimann just before halftime.

Villa is six points clear of Norwich, which likely needs at least four points to survive but ends the season with games against Chelsea on Sunday and Arsenal next weekend.

News_Rich_Media: Highlights of Aston Villa's 3-1 victory over Hull City at Villa Park.

Hull, a point behind Villa, is also unlikely to be hauled in by Norwich but its three-game winless run bodes ill for the FA Cup final against Arsenal on May 17.

Southampton beat Swansea 1-0 away thanks to Rickie Lambert’s injury-time goal in Saturday’s other match.