Middlesbrough relegated after 2-1 defeat at West Ham

Southgate's Boro failed to achieve an unlikely last-day relegation escape

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Sunday, 24, May 2009 06:19

Gareth Southgate's Middlesbrough have been relegated from the Premier League after the Riverside outfit lost 2-1 away at West Ham United.

A weak performance from Southgate's men typified their season in which their lack of strength in depth has been crucially exposed.

Boro needed a strong win against West Ham, but their 11-year stint in the Premier League was brought to an end by a Junior Stanislas winner, after Carlton Cole's opener was cancelled out by Gary O' Neil.

Middleborough needed a rush of goals to be in with a chance of staying up, but both teams appeared cagey in a scrappy opening quarter.

Southgate's side pressed but the first chance fell to the Hammers, with Stanislav firing a shot which cannoned off the crossbar.

Cole, back from a groin strain injury, then gave the Londoners the lead, slotting Luis Boa Morte's cross goalward past keeper Brad Jones for his twelfth goal of the season.

Hopes of a miracle for Middlesbrough were slightly raised when they pulled a goal back after the break.

Tuncay, their only source of real quality upfront after club record signing Alfonso Alvez failed to deliver, set up an equaliser for the visitors.

After his strong run into the heart of the West Ham defence, the ball broke to O'Neil, who slotted the ball home from the right-hand side of the box.

However, they achieved parity for less than ten minutes, with a goalkeeping error allowing the Hammers to retake the lead.

Jack Collison found Stanislas, who shot straight at Jones, but the keeper allowed the ball to slip under his body and find the net.

Southgate's head was in his hands as Boro never looked like responding and now championship football awaits the north-east outfit alongside local rivals Newcastle United and West Bromwich Albion.