English Premier League promotion, relegation: Harry Souttar, Leicester City relegated after final-day drama

One of the Socceroos’ biggest stars is heading back to the second tier of English football after a final-day win wasn’t enough for his side to ensure they avoided relegation.

Tom Lockyer collapses during the playoff final.

Leicester were relegated from the Premier League just seven years after a spectacular title triumph as Everton prolonged their 69-year stay in the English top flight by beating Bournemouth 1-0 on Sunday.

Leeds will also return to the Championship after three seasons in the Premier League as their relegation was confirmed by a 4-1 defeat to Tottenham.

Abdoulaye Doucoure was Everton’s hero as the French midfielder smashed home from the edge of the box on 57 minutes to spark jubilant celebrations around Goodison Park.

In contrast, Leicester were crestfallen as they went down, despite their 2-1 win over West Ham.

Everton began the afternoon in control of their own fate but put a raucous support of 40,000 fans at Goodison Park through the mill before securing survival.

Scoring goals has been a problem for Sean Dyche’s men and they badly missed the presence of talismanic striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Even when Everton did open up the visitors, Bournemouth goalkeeper Mark Travers produced a stunning save to deny Idrissa Gueye midway through the first half.

The Cherries upset the odds to secure survival weeks ago and refused to lie down and make life easy for the home side.

Marcos Senesi fired inches wide before Yerry Mina needed to make a desperate last-ditch challenge to block Dominic Solanke’s goalbound effort.

Everton's French midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure celebrates the goal which kept the Toffees up.

Travers was a late replacement in the Bournemouth side after captain Neto missed out for personal reasons and more heroics from the Irish goalkeeper prevented Demarai Gray from opening the scoring early in the second period.

Conceding first would likely have been fatal for Everton, who have not scored more than once at home since October.

The relief was palpable when Doucoure’s sweet strike finally got the better of Travers.

Everton still had an anxious half hour to see out. Jordan Pickford had to make a fine save to deny Matias Vina an equaliser during 10 minutes of added time.

Leicester did what they had to do as the Foxes won for just the second time in 17 games.

But it was too little, too late for a talented squad that badly underperformed this season.

In contrast to Everton, Leicester have an array of attacking weapons and they showed the quality they possess with the opening goal as Harvey Barnes exchanged a one-two with Kelechi Iheanacho and slotted calmly into the far corner.

Harry Souttar’s Leicester City are heading to the Championship.

Wout Faes headed in Leicester’s second just after the hour, but by that point the home crowd at the King Power knew Everton led and needed a favour from Bournemouth that never arrived.

Leeds required a series of results to go in their favour and never gave themselves a chance as Harry Kane opened the scoring after just two minutes at Elland Road.

Pedro Porro doubled Spurs’ lead early in the second-half and Kane reached 30 Premier League goals for the season after Jack Harrison had pulled one back for Leeds.

Lucas Moura rounded off the scoring with virtually his final kick of a five-year Tottenham career.

Victory for Spurs was not enough for secure a place in next season’s Europa Conference League as Aston Villa beat Brighton 2-1 to seal seventh.

LEICESTER MANAGER: WE GOT WHAT WE DESERVED

Leicester got what they deserved after the former Premier League champions were relegated on the final day of a dismal season.

Despite Sunday’s 2-1 win against West Ham, Smith’s side were condemned to play in the second tier for the first time since 2014 after their relegation rivals Everton beat Bournemouth 1-0.

Just seven years after their against-all-odds title triumph, Leicester finished two points behind fourth-bottom Everton as they crashed out of the Premier League.

It was a painful end to a troubled season that featured the exit of former boss Brendan Rodgers by mutual consent in early April.

Smith was hired to save Leicester on a short-term contract until the end of the season.

But the 52-year-old suffered a second successive relegation after dropping out of the Premier League with Norwich last season.

Smith conceded he had fallen short in his rescue mission but made it clear there were no excuses for his Thai-owned club’s decline.

“We put some pressure on but it wasn’t to be. When I came here with eight games to go I thought we probably needed 11 points. We’ve fallen two short of that with nine,” he said.

“I’m disappointed for the owner here and the staff and the players.” Leicester won the FA Cup for the first time in the club’s history just two years ago and finished fifth in the Premier League in successive seasons in 2020 and 2021.

Dean Smith hugs James Maddison after the club’s relegation was sealed.

Only last season, they came a creditable eighth, making their sudden descent into the Championship all the more surprising.

Asked why Leicester find themselves in this position, Smith said: “I don’t think that’s a question for me. I failed on my part because I felt we needed 11 points.

“Every manager will think I could have done this or that but hindsight is a wonderful thing. You finish where you deserve to over a season.

“There will be a review from people who have been here all season and will understand it.” Smith is uncertain if Leicester will want him to remain in charge next season. “It’s not a question for now. I’ll have to think about it. At the moment it’s raw because we’ve been relegated,” he said.

“Mine was a remit to come in for seven weeks and eight games and try to keep the club in the Premier League. Unfortunately I’ve fallen a little bit short.” Leicester will take a massive financial hit from relegation, with several star players likely to want to leave.

England midfielder James Maddison, talented winger Harvey Barnes and veteran striker Jamie Vardy will all have suitors.

“It’s hard for me to answer because I haven’t talked about any contracts. I’ve just been concentrating on game to game,” Smith said.

“The time I’ve had with the players, they have been really good. I’ve only had to get into them once in a training session.

“I felt we were lacking in belief when we first came. We gained confidence but we didn’t pick up enough points.”

SKIPPER’S HOSPITAL CELEBRATION AFTER PLAYOFF COLLAPSE

Premier League player-in-waiting Tom Lockyer celebrated Luton Town’s Championship playoff final win from his hospital bed.

The club captain was stretchered off the pitch early in the first half after appearing to collapse.

But after the Hatters won the clash by beating Coventry after a penalty shootout, Lockyer was still able to celebrate.

His dad, Steve, shared an incredible photo from the hospital room that he was in at the moment Luton won.

Steve then gave a positive update on his son’s health.

He wrote: “Tom’s Dad here. Tom is ok.

“Very happy but so sad he can’t be there with his team-mates. Here is the moment…….”

And fans loved the update as one wrote: “Fantastic and the most important news, wishing him well, congratulations!”

A second said: “Great to see that Tom is doing ok. I’m absolutely buzzing for him and can’t wait to see him in the Premier League next season, amazing!”

While a third added: “Great to see the joy. Thoughts are with the Lockyer family still, even in this moment of joy. Get well soon!”

Lockyer later posted the same pic to his own Instagram with a touching tribute to the medical staff and his team-mates.

He wrote: “Well not quite where I thought I’d be celebrating at the final whistle!

“I would just like to say a massive thank you to the amazing physios and doctors at @ltfc_official and Wembley for the swift and thorough response.

“A much scarier moment for everyone else than myself I am sure!

“Commiserations to @coventrycityfcofficial a fantastic opponent over 3 games which had to be decided by penalties.

“I am currently in hospital under precaution and will stay here overnight for further tests in the morning.

“I am feeling very much myself, helped by the way the lads left it all out on pitch! It’s such an honour to be part of this team.. premier league baby.”

Both teams’ medical staff attended to Lockyer after collapsing off the ball on the Wembley pitch.

He was then given oxygen but was conscious as he was stretchered to the medical room at the Stadium.

It was later confirmed that he was with his parents before being taken to hospital for further tests.

Originally published as English Premier League promotion, relegation: Harry Souttar, Leicester City relegated after final-day drama