Going down: Aston Villa relegated as Marcus Rashford strikes again for Manchester United
The 18-year-old striker puts nail in coffin for bottom of the table club as this defeat sees them drop to the second-tier of English football for the first time in 29 years
Aston Villa’s long-expected relegation from the English Premier League was finally confirmed with a 1-0 loss away to Manchester United on Saturday as teenage rising star Marcus Rashford scored his seventh goal in 12 games.
The 18-year-old striker, also on target in United’s FA Cup quarter-final replay win over West Ham United in midweek, struck in the 32nd minute when he turned in Antonio Valencia’s low cross.
I know there has been criticism, some of it deserved, but today they made a step back for the supporters and showed there was some pride for the shirt
Defeat left bottom-of-the-table Villa 15 points shy of safety with only a maximum of 12 on offer to the Birmingham club in their four remaining league matches this season.
Villa, under the caretaker charge of Eric Black after former manager Remi Garde was sacked last month, have won just three times in 34 league games this campaign and this latest loss saw them drop down to the second-tier of English football for the first time in 29 years.
“It’s a mood of disappointment. What I will say is today I thought they were outstanding,” Black told the BBC. “Energy levels, desire to stick to the plan.