A last-day double from Antoine Semenyo ensured that Bournemouth finished the season in the top half of the table with a win against relegated Leicester.
The Cherries were fifth at the end of February but a run of just two wins in 12 games had cost them any chance of competing in Europe next season, for the first time in the club’s history.
For the most part, this was low-key, end-of-season fare but Ghana international Semenyo struck twice late on to take his season’s tally to 11 Premier League goals and leave his manager Andoni Iraola with a taste of victory.
He said: “I’ve really enjoyed it, this season with the team. This club has finished with the most goals scored and the least goals conceded (in Bournemouth’s Premier League history).
“To finish the season outside of the top 10 would have been really unfair for us.”
The Leicester supporters who had made the trip South spent the afternoon voicing their disgust at the club’s board, and in particular Jon Rudkin.
Bournemouth beat Leicester to finish ninth – their second-ever top-10 Premier League finish
Antoine Semenyo’s second-half brace handed the Foxes their 25th league defeat this season
Mail Sport understands that Ruud van Nistelroooy will not be in charge of the Championship-bound club next season
Ruud van Nistelrooy said that he has no idea what his own future holds amidst speculation that the club are preparing to sack him.
He said: “I still have to wait to have a conversation on a future together or not. That needs to take place. It’s been a hard season and of course, very disappointed with the relegation.”
The deadlock was finally broken when Justin Kluivert dinked the ball to the far post where Illya Zabarnyi towered a header back into the six-yard box with Semenyo waiting to stab it home.
Then, two minutes from time, Semenyo drilled clinically into the bottom corner to ensure the Cherries ended the season on a high.
