The Cottagers fought bravely for so long, but with three matches left to play, they have now lost their top-flight status
Ola Aina didn’t make it off the bench, but Ademola Lookman, Josh Maja, Joshua Onomah, and Tosin Adarabioyo played as Fulham succumbed to a 2-0 defeat to Burnley in a Premier League matchday 35 clash at the Craven Cottage.
The defeat, Fulham’s 18th of a terribly disappointing campaign, sealed the Cottagers’ demotion to the Championship, barely twelve months after they gained promotion to the elite league.
Sitting in 18th place with nine points separating them from Burnley and safety ahead of kickoff, Scott Parker’s men knew only a win would keep their slim survival hopes alive.
But two first-half goals from Ashley Westwood and Chris Wood won the tie for Sean Dyche’s side, condemning their hosts to at least another year of Championship football.
Fulham boasted the heaviest contingent of footballers of Nigerian descent in the Premier League and possibly in England. Still, even they could not help the Whites avoid the agony of relegation.
Aina, on-loan from Torino, could return to Serie A should no English club offer to retain him in the top-flight ahead of next season.
Flying winger Lookman possibly has an array of suitors waiting to snap him up in the summer, but he could also return to Germany to rejoin his parent club, Leipzig.
Maja also arrived on loan from France in January, and since he couldn’t fire the goals to keep Fulham in the top division, a return to Girondins Bordeaux may be the next step for the former Sunderland man.
The duo of Onomah and Adarabioyo are more inclined to remain at Craven Cottage and help the London club make an instant return to the Premier League.
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