Sundaymail Editor
ASTON VILLA have been relegated to English football’s second tier for the first time since 1987 after defeat at Manchester United yesterday.
Marcus Rashford scored the only goal, sweeping Antonio Valencia’s cut-back through goalkeeper Brad Guzan’s legs.
Villa were second best for much of the game, though they did hit a post late on through Rudy Gestede’s volley.
It was a ninth straight loss for the visitors and left them 15 points from safety with only four matches left.
Sunderland , meanwhile, climbed to within a point of safety by beating relegation rivals Norwich at Carrow Road.
At the end of an even first half, Fabio Borini buried a penalty following Andre Wisdom’s rash challenge in the box.
The Italian put in an excellent cross for Jermain Defoe to turn in a second after the break before Duncan Watmore scored a third in injury time.
Nathan Redmond hit a post and Norwich had penalty appeals turned down – but the comeback never gathered real pace.
Instead Sunderland could easily have increased their winning margin before Watmore darted onto fellow substitute Sebastien Larsson pass and finally made the hosts pay for the space left behind as they committed numbers forward.
Elsewhere Newcastle claimed a first win under Rafael Benitez as they overcame Swansea to bolster their chances of Premier League survival.
Jamaal Lascelles headed in from a corner to put Newcastle in front towards the end of an edgy first half.
Ashley Williams and Jefferson Montero missed chances as the Swans dominated after the break, but Moussa Sissoko and Andros Townsend struck late goals.
Newcastle are now three points adrift of safety, while Swansea drop to 14th. — BBC
Bongani Ndlovu