Bringing an end to Fulham’s hopes of staying in the Premier League next season, Burnley dished out a 2-0 defeat to the club from London on Monday.
Fulham will now join already-relegated West Bromwich Albion and Sheffield United in the second-tier Championship next season. Hence, there will be no last-day drama in the battle to beat the drop.
Fulham had to avoid defeat at Craven Cottage on Monday to maintain their slim hopes of beating the drop. Meanwhile, the victory assured the Clarets of their top-flight status.
Ashley Westwood opened the scoring for Burnley, while Chris Wood followed it up with another first-half goal and ended Fulham’s chances of staying up.
“It has been looming but it doesn’t hide the disappointment, hurt and sadness I feel tonight,” Fulham manager Scott Parker told the BBC.
“It’s inevitable now. I am gutted.
Meanwhile, Burnley were sold in February to a US-based consortium and Clarets manager Sean Dyche was proud of the way the Clarets had coped on and off the field during some uncertain times for the northwest side.
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“It is important for the club, it is important for the town,” he said.
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.