Norwich were condemned to a record fifth relegation from the Premier League as Michail Antonio’s four-goal blitz fired West Ham to a 4-0 win at Carrow Road on Saturday.
A seventh successive league defeat for Daniel Farke’s side sealed their fate as Antonio’s ruthless display boosted West Ham’s own survival bid.
Norwich are 13 points from safety with only three games left, meaning they are certain to make an immediate return to the Championship after last season’s promotion campaign.
The Canaries have become accustomed to relegation in the Premier League era, going down on four previous occasions in 1995, 2005, 2014 and 2016.
Farke was already resigned to relegation before this weekend given Norwich had lost every game since the coronavirus hiatus.
With all games being played behind closed doors, some Norwich fans might have been relieved not to have to watch the embarrassment of their limp demise in person.
In truth, they have looked out of their depth among the Premier League elite from the moment they paid the price for a naively attacking game-plan in a 4-1 defeat at Liverpool on the opening day of the season.
Farke was hamstrung by Norwich’s decision not to spend big money on new signings following their promotion.
Once Teemu Pukki’s early-season goal rush dried up, they have been on a relentless slide towards the Championship.
A 3-2 win over Manchester City was a rare highlight but just weeks later a 5-1 home defeat against Aston Villa underlined the problems undermanned Norwich would endure all season.
Norwich now face losing promising youngsters Todd Cantwell and Max Aarons to Premier League clubs when the transfer window opens.
West Ham’s second win in four games was a huge lift to their hopes of staying up.
David Moyes’ side are six points above the bottom three with three games left against Watford, Manchester United and Aston Villa.
The early signs were ominous for Norwich as West Ham took the lead in the 11th minute.
Arriving to meet Issa Diop’s flick from Jarrod Bowen’s corner, Antonio volleyed into the roof of the net from close-range for his third goal in his last four games.
Norwich were surrendering with a whimper and Antonio pushed them closer to the relegation trap-door in first half stoppage-time.
Rising above the meek challenge of two Norwich defenders, Antonio glanced his header into the far corner from Mark Noble’s free-kick.
Antonio was proving unplayable for the leaky Norwich rearguard and he completed his hat-trick in the 54th minute, looping a header into the net after Tim Krul saved his initial effort.
Antonio completed a memorable personal performance with his fourth goal in the 74th minute, coolly finishing from Ryan Fredericks’ cross.
Troy Deeney scored two penalties as Watford improved their survival prospect with a 2-1 win against Newcastle at Vicarage Road.
There was a minute’s silence for former Republic of Ireland boss Jack Charlton, the 1966 England World Cup winner who died on Friday aged 85.
It was especially poignant for Newcastle as Charlton was born nearby in Ashington and had a spell as Magpies manager in the 1984-85 season.
Newcastle snatched the lead in the 23rd minute when Matt Ritchie’s corner was flicked on by Federico Fernandez and Dwight Gayle bundled home at the far post for his third goal of the season.
But Deeney pulled Watford level seven minutes after the restart.
Kiko Femenia was clipped inside the area by Ritchie and Deeney smashed the penalty past Martin Dubravka.
In the 82nd minute, Javier Manquillo brought down Ismaila Sarr and Deeney stepped up again to bury his second penalty.
Fourth bottom Watford are now six points clear of third bottom Bournemouth, who face Leicester on Sunday.
Second bottom Aston Villa are seven points adrift of safety before Sunday’s clash with Crystal Palace.
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