Match ends, Norwich City 0, West Ham United 4.
Norwich City 0-4 West Ham United: Michail Antonio scores four to send Canaries down
- From the section Premier League
Norwich City became the first club to be relegated from the Premier League this season as Michail Antonio scored all four goals to ease West Ham's troubles near the bottom of the table.
A seventh successive league defeat left Daniel Farke's side anchored at the foot of the table, 13 points from safety with only three games to play.
Having struggled to adapt since winning the Championship last season, Norwich's third relegation in seven seasons was sealed by Antonio's superb performance in front of goal.
The forward volleyed the first from inside the six-yard area after Issa Diop's flick from a corner before using his head to guide Mark Noble's free-kick beyond Tim Krul.
Hammers skipper Noble also provided the ball over the top for Antonio's hat-trick. Krul saved his initial shot but it fell invitingly for the West Ham player to head over the line. His fourth was a tap-in from Ryan Fredericks' pass.
West Ham's first Premier League away win under David Moyes lifts them six points above the relegation zone, with two of their remaining three matches at home to fellow strugglers Watford and Aston Villa.
Norwich's dreadful form since the Premier League resumed after being suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic meant it was a matter of when - not if - they would be relegated
Their 24th league defeat came after an abject performance, the Canaries failing to score for a league-high 17th game this season.
Argentine midfielder Emiliano Buendia tested Lukasz Fabianski while Teemu Pukki, who has not scored since netting his 11th league goal of the season on 22 January, headed a good chance wide.
- 'The outcome is more or less what was expected' - Farke has no regrets after relegation
- Reaction from Carrow Road as Norwich City are relegated
What went wrong for the Canaries?
There were emotional scenes at Carrow Road when referee Kevin Friend signalled the end of the match.
A number of Norwich players dropped to the ground while boss Farke consoled his team.
Having spent the majority of this prolonged campaign in the bottom three, the end of the season cannot come soon enough.
The Canaries depart England's top flight having caused one of the biggest shocks of the season, a 3-2 win over defending champions Manchester City, while Farke's side also held Arsenal and Tottenham at home, and won at Everton.
When Jamal Lewis hit the winner against Champions League hopefuls Leicester on 28 February, shortly before the season was suspended, Norwich were just four points from safety with 10 games remaining.
But they have been woeful since the restart, losing all six league games by an aggregate score of 15-1.
Farke opted to keep the core of last season's team that finished with five more points than Sheffield United on the way to winning the Championship in impressive style.
Nine of the 11 players that started against West Ham also started the final Championship game of last season against Villa.
While Villa spent more than £100m after winning promotion via the play-offs, Norwich spent a fraction of that sum, with £750,000 for West Ham right-back Sam Byram one of their biggest outlays.
They have managed just five clean sheets and scored only seven times away from Carrow Road.
With two of their three remaining games at third-placed Chelsea and second-placed Manchester City, they are on course to finish the season with the fewest away goals in the Premier League era.
Fewest away goals in a season | ||
---|---|---|
Season | Team | Goals |
2019-20 | Norwich City | 7 |
1995-96 | Middlesbrough | 8 |
1998-99 | Southampton | 8 |
2006-07 | Sheffield United | 8 |
2007-08 | Derby County | 8 |
What now for Farke and his players?
Farke insists Norwich will not do anything "crazy" in the transfer market as they look to bounce back in 2020-21 - but there are some important decisions to be made.
The former Borussia Dortmund reserve-team boss has a contract until 2022 and is keen to stay and rebuild a team capable of making an immediate return to the Premier League.
Whether Farke will be in charge after a dreadful run of form remains to be seen, while Norwich's hierarchy has some tough decisions to make concerning the future of the club's playing assets.
In November 2019, the Canaries announced losses of £38m for the financial year ending June 2019 before senior staff forecast a profit in the region of £16m for 2019-20.
That was before the season was suspended, Norwich warning in April that they could lose up to £35m because of the coronavirus pandemic.
It may prompt Norwich to cash in on highly-rated young players like Ben Godfrey and Todd Cantwell, although Farke stated on the eve of the West Ham game: "If we want to bounce back next season it is important we keep our best players to be competitive."
Defender Godfrey, 22, has been linked with German teams Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig, while Sheffield United are reported to be interested in 22-year-old midfielder Cantwell.
Will West Ham survive?
This was a huge win for West Ham - and not just in terms of the score.
Having started the game three points above the relegation zone, they have created some breathing space before the last three games of the season - and left Bournemouth and Aston Villa in big trouble.
The Hammers had failed to win any of their previous seven away league games under Moyes - but they made up for it as they claimed their biggest away win in the Premier League since November 2007.
In addition to scoring the first hat-trick of his professional career, Antonio became the first West Ham player to score four goals in a league match since David Cross against Tottenham in September 1981.
Since the restart, Antonio has been involved in 78% of West Ham's Premier League goals, scoring six and assisting one - form Moyes will hope he can continue to the end of the season.
Man of the match - Michail Antonio (West Ham)
Fifth Premier League relegation - the stats
- Norwich have been relegated from the Premier League for a record fifth time.
- West Ham picked up their first away win in the Premier League since December (1-0 v Southampton), ending a run of eight games on the road without a win (D1 L7).
- Norwich have lost 24 Premier League games this season - in no league season in their history have they ever lost more.
- The Canaries have conceded 17 goals from set-piece situations in the Premier League this season (excluding penalties), more than any other side.
What's next?
While Norwich are back in action on Tuesday at Chelsea (20:15 BST), West Ham host fellow strugglers Watford next Friday (20:00 BST).
Line-ups
Norwich
- 1Krul
- 2Aarons
- 4Godfrey
- 15Klose
- 12Lewis
- 27Tettey
- 8VrancicSubstituted forMcLeanat 78'minutes
- 17BuendíaSubstituted forRuppat 70'minutes
- 18StiepermannBooked at 33minsSubstituted forCantwellat 69'minutes
- 11HernándezSubstituted forMartinat 70'minutes
- 22PukkiSubstituted forIdahat 69'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Rupp
- 14Cantwell
- 19Trybull
- 20Drmic
- 23McLean
- 25Duda
- 33McGovern
- 35Idah
- 56Martin
West Ham
- 1Fabianski
- 24Fredericks
- 23Diop
- 21OgbonnaSubstituted forBalbuenaat 87'minutes
- 3Cresswell
- 28Soucek
- 41Rice
- 17BowenSubstituted forYarmolenkoat 83'minutes
- 16NobleSubstituted forWilshereat 77'minutes
- 18FornalsSubstituted forMasuakuat 83'minutes
- 30AntonioSubstituted forHallerat 78'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Balbuena
- 7Yarmolenko
- 10Lanzini
- 19Wilshere
- 22Haller
- 26Masuaku
- 27Ajeti
- 35Randolph
- 53Johnson
- Referee:
- Kevin Friend
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home53%
- Away47%
- Shots
- Home11
- Away19
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away7
- Corners
- Home1
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away8
Live Text
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Norwich City 0, West Ham United 4.
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Max Aarons (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Andriy Yarmolenko (West Ham United).
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Foul by Ben Godfrey (Norwich City).
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Jack Wilshere (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Todd Cantwell (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Tomas Soucek (West Ham United).
Substitution
Substitution, West Ham United. Fabián Balbuena replaces Angelo Ogbonna.
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Attempt missed. Todd Cantwell (Norwich City) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Jamal Lewis.
Substitution
Substitution, West Ham United. Arthur Masuaku replaces Pablo Fornals.
Substitution
Substitution, West Ham United. Andriy Yarmolenko replaces Jarrod Bowen.
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Foul by Alexander Tettey (Norwich City).
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Jack Wilshere (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Offside, Norwich City. Todd Cantwell tries a through ball, but Adam Idah is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Norwich City. Kenny McLean replaces Mario Vrancic.
Substitution
Substitution, West Ham United. Sébastien Haller replaces Michail Antonio.
Substitution
Substitution, West Ham United. Jack Wilshere replaces Mark Noble.
Goal!
Goal! Norwich City 0, West Ham United 4. Michail Antonio (West Ham United) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ryan Fredericks.
Substitution
Substitution, Norwich City. Josh Martin replaces Onel Hernández.