LAST UPDATE | 10 May 2021
FULHAM WERE RELEGATED from the Premier League with a 2-0 loss at home to Burnley on Monday that assured the Clarets of their top-flight status.
The result meant London club Fulham would join already-demoted West Bromwich Albion and Sheffield United in the second-tier Championship next season.
Scott Parker’s side had to avoid defeat on Monday to maintain their slim hopes of beating the drop.
But those hopes were all but ended by first-half goals from Burnley’s Ashley Westwood and Chris Wood.
Fulham manager Parker responded to a 2-0 derby defeat by Chelsea by recalling Aleksandar Mitrovic and Kenny Tete to his starting XI.
By contrast, Burnley boss Sean Dyche made no changes to a side that lost 2-1 at home to West Ham last week. Irish defender Jimmy Dunne was named on the bench.
Burnley were twice denied early by Fulham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, before they went ahead in the 35th minute when Westwood, found at the back post by Matej Vydra, slotted the ball into the net.
The visitors then doubled their lead a minute before the break when Wood let fly with a shot into the top corner.
Areola appeared fortunate to stay on the field in the 67th minute when, after he had raced out his area, the ball appeared to come off he keeper’s arm as Vydra tried to go around him.
But there was no VAR intervention, with officials deciding Areola had escaped a red card because the presence of a covering defender meant there had not been a denial of a goalscoring opportunity.
VAR is not empowered to recommend a booking, hence the lack of even a yellow card.
But if that was a fortunate break for Fulham, their luck ran out at the other end of the pitch in the 70th minute when Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa’s shot beat Burnley keeper Nick Pope only to bounce clear off the underside of the bar.
The UFC might aswell not have rankings and contenders anymore.
@Ciarán: Woodley faught Maia, Wonderboy*2 and Lawler in his last 4 fights: each the highest rank possible at the time… If anyone should be allowed a money fight its him. Besides, in diaz’s last 2 fights, he beat a champion and then lost to the same guy on a narrow decision. So compared to other welterweights he isnt an absurd choice… Its nothing like Bisping: making his 1st defence against someone not even in the top 10 and his 2nd defence against someone who hadnt faught in 4 years.
Coincidence that McGregor and Diaz will both have titles before their rematch? Not that I’m complaining, would be hard not to get excited about the build up to that.
@Johnny: what title will Diaz have? No chance will he beat Woodley
@Connery83: 100% agree, Diaz is the perfect style for Woodley to fight. Plus hed have no excuse to be cautious in this one.
@Connery83: Woodley barely beat Maia even the the entire fight was fought on the feat. Diaz is more than a match for him on the feet and if it goes to the ground Diaz is more than comfortable fighting on top or from his back. Diaz will beat him.
@Johnny: Maia is possibly the best at bjj in the entire ufc. Woodley was being cautious to avoid his submissions, but was comfortably better on the feet. Fans were angry that he didnt try to finish him. He also beat Wonderboy who is one of the best strikers
@Johnny: Woodley will punch a hole through his face. I actually fear for Nate in this fight, as he is so durable. Mate defends with his face and against the hardest hitter at 170 that’s a recipe for disaster
That’s preposterous! What has he done to deserve a shot
@Patrick Dara Kelly: Been the only person since 2010 to beat McGregor, a 2 weight champion, in mma.
@Rudiger McMonihan: fair achievement but why has that put him in line for a title shot, he’s 3-3 at 170.
He smokes a hell a lot of weed, with Conor the King of Coke and the majority of the roster on some kind drugs he’s perfect.
@Malachy Rivers: The main difference between them and athletes in other sports is the testing. Has a football player ever been caught using PEDs?
Great fight Woodley has me blocked on twitter so I hope he gets a beating:)