West Brom relegated by Southampton's huge 3 points at Swansea

Southampton's Premier League hopes are alive, Swansea City's are hanging by a thread, and West Bromwich Albion's long-expected relegation has finally come to fruition.

With both sides level on 33 points and staring down the trapdoor, the Saints travelled to the Swans' Liberty Stadium on Tuesday and carved out a seismically important 1-0 victory.

The win makes it eight points from 12 for Mark Hughes' lot.

Manolo Gabbiadini was the hero, handing the visitor the lead in the 72nd minute moments after coming on for Jan Bednarek. A melee in the penalty area saw the ball fall to the Italian, who fired a close-range effort that deflected off Alfie Mawson and in.

Charlie Austin had the first genuine chance of the day in the 31st minute with Southampton on the counter, firing a right-footed effort that Lukasz Fabianski easily trapped. Jordan Ayew should have then handed the host an advantage moments after the interval when his curling effort was hoisted narrowly above the bar by Alex McCarthy.

Austin stung Fabianski's mitts in the 52nd minute with a thunderous strike, highlighting a frenetic period that saw each side threaten in attack.

With the result, Southampton vaults Huddersfield and sits 16th on 36 points, narrowly ahead of the Terriers on goal differential ahead of a home Premier League finale against champ Manchester City on Sunday, from which the Saints need just a point to secure safety. Swansea is stuck on 33 points, requiring a victory at home over last-placed Stoke City on the final day and losses for Huddersfield both against Chelsea on Wednesday and at home to Arsenal.

Tuesday's result also meant heartbreak for West Brom after the Baggies enjoyed a last-gasp uptick in form under caretaker manager Darren Moore. Named Premier League Manager of the Month for April on Tuesday, Moore led the West Midlands side to three wins and two draws in five games, including 1-0 wins over Manchester United and Tottenham.

Albion now joins Stoke City in dropping to the Championship, ending an eight-year stretch in the English top flight. If it's any consolation for the Hawthorns faithful, the club has been relegated to the second tier on three occasions since 2003 and in each instance has finished no worse than fourth place in the following season.