Ghana forward Jordan Ayew played full throttle as Aston Villa officially got relegated to English football’s second tier for the first time since 1987 after defeat at Manchester United on Saturday.
A 1-0 loss at Old Trafford, settled by Marcus Rashford’s strike, condemned the claret and blues to an expected relegation. Villa will compete in the Championship for the 2016-17 season.
In reality, however, their fate had long seemed inevitable after a disastrous season which has seen them win just three games and part company with two managers.
Attentions will now turn toward just who will be appointed to lead the club’s rebuild from the Championship.
Former Leicester boss Nigel Pearson is presently the front-runner, though David Moyes, Steve Bruce and Sean Dyche are all on the club’s shortlist.
Villa, who began the campaign with Tim Sherwood in the hots-eat, won 1-0 at Bournemouth on the opening day.
But Sherwood was then dismissed after they lost eight of the next nine games.
He was replaced by Remi Garde but the Frenchman was unable to revive the club’s fortunes, winning just three of his 23 games in charge.
Baba ripped apart, Schlupp wins penalty
Also on Saturday, two Black Stars players – Andre Ayew and Baba Abdul Rahman were in action for their respective clubs Swansea and Chelsea.
Andre played 71 minutes as his Swansea side were handed a 3-0 battering by relegation dogfighting Newcastle at the St. James’ Park while Baba lasted full time in Chelsea’s shock home defeat to Manchester City by the same scoreline.
On Sunday, Ghana duo Daniel Amartey and Jeffrey Schlupp both played bit-part roles in league leaders Leicester City’s drama-filled 2-2 draw with West Ham United. Schlupp won Leicester a late penalty, the conversion of which forced the game in the stalemate.
Ghana pursuit Timothy Fosu-Mensah came on late in Manchester United’s slim victory over Aston Villa.