Rob Edwards in tears as Luton has been relegated, saying ‘I’m the one responsible’

Luton’s Premier League relegation is all but confirmed. Defeat by West Ham this afternoon means that Rob Edwards’ team will finish in the bottom three of the Premier League, barring Nottingham Forest losing to Chelsea by a double-digit scoreline in the 5.30pm kick-off.

With Burnley’s demotion confirmed this afternoon – thanks to defeat by Tottenham Hotspur – and Sheffield United already condemned to the drop, the relegation battle is essentially sewn up with one game of the season remaining.

Playing away at the London Stadium, Luton scored first through Albert Sambi Lokonga and were leading into half-time. A second-half blitz from the hosts put paid to their slim hopes of Premier League survival, though. James Ward-Prowse and Tomas Soucek scored within 10 minutes and a third goal, from George Earthy, put the nail in Luton’s coffin.

Edwards and some of his players were in tears, seemingly resigned to an immediate return to the Championship, as they applauded the travelling support after the final whistle.

Julen Lopetegui is set to usher in a new era in east London, but Saturday gave West Ham fans, even those fed up with Moyes and his perceived defensive tactics, the chance to thank the Scot for his second spell in charge, the successive top-seven finishes, the three seasons in Europe and, of course, that night in Prague last summer.

However, in contrast to that Europa Conference League-winning outfit, the first half was 2024 West Ham in a nutshell – lethargic, sloppy, lacking ideas and defensively suspect.

Just five minutes had elapsed when Alfie Doughty lifted a cross into the area and Lokonga dived in ahead of Angelo Ogbonna to head home from six yards out.

Luton, still scrapping for their lives despite being beset by injuries all season, suddenly had a glimmer of hope in the battle to beat the drop.

Meanwhile, a few boos accompanied Moyes and his players as they headed down the tunnel at half-time.

However, the fans’ mood changed eight minutes into the second half when Jarrod Bowen scurried down the right and his cross-shot was half-cleared by the boot of Thomas Kaminski.

The ball fell to Ward-Prowse, who lashed it low and hard past the grounded Hatters goalkeeper from 14 yards out.

Bowen almost put the hosts ahead when he intercepted Gabriel Osho’s headed back pass but could only flick the ball into Kaminski’s arms.

Kaminski then kept out two goalbound headers from Michail Antonio in quick succession, with Bowen firing the rebound from the second inches wide.

A West Ham goal was coming and Soucek pounced in the 65th minute after Lokonga had headed away Ward-Prowse’s cross.

Then came a sweet moment for Earthy, on as a substitute a month after his debut lasted just two minutes before he was knocked out cold and taken to hospital.

The 19-year-old will certainly remember his second appearance, scoring a first senior goal a minute after coming on to offer hope for the future as West Ham said a fond farewell to the past.