Leicester’s nine-year stay in the Premier League comes to an end

• Leicester City were relegated from the Premier League to Championship on final matchday despite win over West Ham
• The Foxes have had a difficult campaign, enjoying just three wins in their final 17 games

Leicester City were relegated from the Premier League to Championship on final matchday despite win over West Ham.

The Foxes beat West Ham 2-1 at King Power Stadium but that proved to be insufficient as Everton’s win over Bournemouth meant the 2015-16 Premier League champions were relegated to the Championship.

Leicester City were relegated despite winning their final game of the season. Photo/ Leicester Mercury.

Leicester’s game finished before Everton’s and that meant the Foxes players had to wait on the pitch for confirmation to come that their nine-year stay in the Premier League had come to an end. They applauded their fans as they headed down the tunnel and out of the Premier League.

The Foxes have had a wretched campaign, enjoying just three wins in their final 17 games. They managed to keep just one clean sheet since November. Interim boss Dean Smith, who was appointed in April, could not save the club which won the Premier League title only seven years ago as he led them to nine points from eight games in charge.

Speaking after Leicester were relegated, Dean Smith said it was a massive disappointment to the fans and the team at large while admitting that he had failed.

“I can only look at my seven weeks and eight games. I always felt coming in it was going to be tough. The confidence and belief was low. I felt we would need 11 points to stay up, it turned out to be 11 but we only got nine. In that regard, I have failed.” BBC Sports quotes Dean Smith.

How Leicester City Beat West Ham

Knowing they needed to beat West Ham to increase their chances of staying in the Premier League, Leicester City started the game on a high note. Kelechi Iheanacho exchanged passes with James Maddison before he clipped the crossbar with a well-taken shot.

Dean Smith’s side eventually found the goal they needed to get things running in the 34th minute when Harvey Barnes played a quick one-two with Iheanacho before finding the back of the net.

The game went into break with Leicester City being 1-0 up, giving their fans a reason to celebrate as they crossed fingers for Everton’s game. However, the buoyant mood quickly changed after the break after news went through that Everton had taken the lead against Bournemouth.

West Ham nearly equalized against Leicester at the same time but Said Benrahma’s shot hit the woodwork. Leicester then doubled their advantage in the 62nd minute, thanks to Wout Faes who headed home his first goal for the club from a Youri Tielemans delivery.

Pablo Fournals pulled one back for West Ham but Leicester held on to their narrow lead until the referee blew his whistle to signal the end of the game. The Foxes would have stayed in the Premier League but Everton’s 1-0 win over Bournemouth meant their nine-year stay at the top flight had come to an end.

Leicester City have been relegated to the Championship. Photo/ SuperSport.