Crystal Palace have relegated Hull City to the Sky Bet Championship, after mauling them 4-0 in the first Premier League match today at Selhurst Park, London.
Hull needed at least a draw to keep hope of staying in the Premier League alive and avoid Sunderland and Middlesbrough in the Championship.
But the hope was shattered in the first 34 minutes of the game, with goals by Wilfried Zaha and Christian Benteke putting the match out of reach.
Then in the second half, just when fans thought the team would rally for a draw, they collapsed again in the last five minutes, conceding two goals. Luka Milvojevic converted for Palace from the penalty spot in the 85th minute.
Patrick van Aanholt put the nail in the Hull coffin on 90th minute, scoring Palace’s 4th goal and the 1000th goal of the Premier League this season.
Sam Allardyce said of his team’s performance: “We’ve been here (Premier League) for a few years and we want to grow on it… It’s a great performance, 4 goals and a clean sheet. It’s great for everybody behind the scenes since I joined and the fans – it’s a great relief… We haven’t wasted the magnificent results we’ve achieved, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal, they were remarkable performances”.
Hull have been in and out of the Premier League in the last seven years, after they were promoted in 2008.
