By David Hobbs
May 15 2005

Ruud van Nistelrooy's second-half winner was enough to send Harry Redknapp's Southampton down into the Championship after a 27-year stay in the top flight of English football.

Ruud Goal Sinks Saints

Southampton 1
John O'Shea 10 - Own Goal

Manchester United 2
Fletcher 19
Van Nistelrooy 63

Ruud van Nistelrooy's second-half winner was enough to send Harry Redknapp's Southampton down into the Championship after a 27-year stay in the top flight of English football.

John O'Shea's deflection from Graeme Le Saux's corner gave the Saints a glimmer of hope in the early stages of the game, but Darren Fletcher equalized just nine minutes later.

Dutchman Ruud van Nistelrooy later headed home an Alan Smith cross to win his side the game. Southampton will join Crystal Palace and Norwich playing Championship football next season as West Brom defied the dreaded 'bottom club at Christmas' omen.

Sir Alex Ferguson rested skipper Roy Keane ahead of the FA Cup Final with Arsenal next Saturday in Cardiff as he looked to perfect a squad ready for the Millennium Stadium.

Southampton looked shaky in the opening minutes as Wayne Rooney and Mikael Silvestre came close on goal, but the home side took a surprise lead.

Graeme Le Saux's corner was tipped on by Nigel Quashie and then to John O'Shea's thigh. The Ireland international defender was hapless as he saw his deflection drive past Roy Carroll.

Mikael Silvestre's excellent piece of defending denied Southampton to extend their lead through Brett Ormerod, who came close to latching onto Jamie Redknapp's ball.

John O'Shea made amends somewhat for his own goal as he crossed for Darren Fletcher to head home and level the score-line.

Fifteen minutes into the second half, Alan Smith's surging run pierced the weak Southampton defence and teed up Ruud van Nistelrooy to nod home from close range.

Southampton were deflated and punctured from there after, despite hitting the woodwork via substitute Kevin Phillips.

The St Mary's faithful knew their number was up as results went against them. West Brom managed to beat Portsmouth and avoid the drop as Norwich fell down 6-0 to Fulham.

Meanwhille, Middlesbrough got that last Uefa Cup spot following Robbie Fowler's penalty miss for Manchester City in the closing seconds.

Final Score: Southampton 1 - 2 Manchester United
Att: 32,066

Southampton: Niemi, Telfer, Lundekvam, Higginbotham, Bernard (Davenport 78), Prutton (Phillips 71), Redknapp, Quashie, Le Saux (Delap 71), Camara, Ormerod.
Substitutes Not Used: Smith, Oakley.

Manchester United: Carroll, O'Shea, Brown, Ferdinand, Silvestre, Fortune, Fletcher, Giggs, Smith, Rooney (Saha 74), van Nistelrooy (Phil Neville 87).
Substitutes Not Used: Kleberson, Keane, Ricardo.

Refereed By: S Bennett