Newcastle United boosted their hopes of Champions League qualification as they cruised to a 3-0 win over 10-man Ipswich Town that confirmed relegation for Kieran McKenna’s side.
The Magpies were frustrated for much of the first half as Ipswich sat deep in an effort to maintain parity, Bruno Guimaraes seeing a goal disallowed for a foul on goalkeeper Alex Palmer.
But Ipswich were left with an impossible task when Ben Johnson was sent off in the 37th minute for a second bookable offence, the full-back given another yellow for a foul on Alexander Isak having received his first for simulation.
That proved the turning point and, after Guimaraes had a bicycle kick cleared off the line and Sandro Tonali hit the crossbar, Isak finally broke the deadlock in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time.
Isak slotted home from the penalty spot after Julio Enciso had been adjudged to have fouled Jacob Murphy following a VAR review.
There was never any hope of an Ipswich comeback, and Newcastle were ruthless in condemning them to the drop with two second-half goals.
Dan Burn turned in a second from point-blank range and William Osula headed in his first Premier League goal to send Newcastle back into third place in Eddie Howe’s first game back in the dugout following a bout of pneumonia.
Ipswich return to the Championship, marking the first time all three relegated sides have had their fate confirmed with four games to play.
4 – For the first time in Premier League history, all relegated clubs have been confirmed with as many as four games remaining. Gulf. pic.twitter.com/eOqGVMDy3U
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 26, 2025
Brighton and Hove Albion 3-2 West Ham
Brighton’s hopes of European football next season seemed set to suffer a huge blow, but a remarkable late turnaround gave them a thrilling win over West Ham and former manager Graham Potter.
West Ham looked primed to claim the points as Tomas Soucek gave them the lead seven minutes from the end of normal time, Mohammed Kudus having earlier cancelled out Yassin Ayari’s stunning opener.
But Kaoru Mitoma headed in an 89th-minute equaliser, and three minutes later Carlos Baleba took aim from at least 25 yards out and bent home a brilliant winner to send the home fans into delirium.
Southampton 1-2 Fulham
Fulham are level with Brighton on 51 points, but they made hard work of their win over bottom side Southampton.
It appeared as if Fulham would have to settle for a share of the spoils at St Mary’s Stadium.
Jack Stephens gave Saints a 14th-minute lead, but Emile Smith-Rowe levelled for Fulham in the 72nd minute.
Yet Ryan Sessegnon ensured the Cottagers completed the turnaround when he headed brilliantly into the bottom-left corner in the 92nd minute.
Fulham are eighth ahead of Brighton on goal difference. That will likely end up as a European qualification spot, while they are each six points behind seventh-placed Aston Villa.
Southampton remain a point adrift of Derby County’s record-low points total of 11.
10 – Since Vítor Pereira’s first Premier League game in charge (December 22nd), only Liverpool (13) and Newcastle (12) have won more matches in the competition than Wolves (10). Impact. pic.twitter.com/nGiUJ0wOw2
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 26, 2025
Wolves 3-0 Leicester City
Wolves will not be playing European football next season, but they continued their outstanding form under Vitor Pereira.
Relegation worries having long since been extinguished, Wolves put Leicester to the sword with goals from Matheus Cunha, Jorgen Strand Larsen and Rodrigo Gomes.
It means Wolves have won six successive games, the first time they have achieved that feat in the Premier League.
