Alex Ovechkin has finally done it.

The Washington Capitals star set the NHL's goals record on Sunday with a second-period power-play tally against the New York Islanders, breaking Wayne Gretzky's mark.

Ovechkin tied the record after netting two goals against the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday. Gretzky set the goals record on March 23, 1994, while playing for the Los Angeles Kings. Ovechkin scored his 895th goal in his 1,487th game, while Gretzky scored 894 goals in 1,487 games.

A video compilation that included LeBron James, Michael Jordan and Simone Biles led reactions to Ovechkin's milestone.

Sports world

Some greats recognizing #Gr8ness pic.twitter.com/uaKFeBujnt

NHL (@NHL) April 6, 2025

From one great to another, @TomBrady sends his congrats to Ovi! #Gr8ness pic.twitter.com/cvoOShP9PJ

NHL (@NHL) April 6, 2025

EIGHT NINETY FIVE, ALL CAPS. Congrats to Alexander Ovechkin on breaking the NHL all-time goal scoring record. pic.twitter.com/T6iIoo5tya

Nike (@Nike) April 6, 2025

Ovechkin may have an incredible shot ... but his windup needs some work https://t.co/Ra7yzmdxPA pic.twitter.com/1vrO7pKLB2

MLB (@MLB) April 6, 2025

The new leader in all-time NHL goals scored, Alex Ovechkin pic.twitter.com/uSDHQEzp7m

NHLPA (@NHLPA) April 6, 2025

Local love

ALEX OVECHKIN HAS PASSED WAYNE GRETZKY FOR THE MOST CAREER GOALS IN NHL HISTORY#Gr8ness | @Venture_Global pic.twitter.com/Jl3LMYqeVI

x - Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 6, 2025

EIGHT TO INFINITY

8 @Capitals pic.twitter.com/y3qimlOhKR

Washington Nationals (@Nationals) April 6, 2025

THE GREAT 8 IS THE @NHL'S ALL-TIME GOAL LEADER

Congrats @ovi8, you're the GOAT!! @Capitals | #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/XXTNyASqOR

Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) April 6, 2025

The #Gr8Chase is complete!

Congrats, @ovi8 pic.twitter.com/7q0QoRDRiU

Washington Commanders (@Commanders) April 6, 2025

Around the NHL

An achievement for all-time.

Congrats, Ovi!@NHL | #Gr8Chase pic.twitter.com/jP4pveR1Cq

Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) April 6, 2025

From 88 to 8.

Congrats, Ovi!#Gr8Chase pic.twitter.com/ywvygcVQW3

Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) April 6, 2025

Congrats, Ovi! #Gr8Chase pic.twitter.com/BZCwMUGd2v

Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) April 6, 2025

Absolute Gr8ness.

Congratulations, Ovi!@NHL | #Gr8Chase pic.twitter.com/lezUij9c1q

Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) April 6, 2025

Congratulations, Ovi! https://t.co/QTs5GFttjG

New York Rangers (@NYRangers) April 6, 2025

THE GR8EST GOAL SCORER THE @NHL HAS EVER SEEN!

Congratulations Ovi! pic.twitter.com/SCGx5NSLEp

Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) April 6, 2025

The Gr8est ever. Congratulations, Ovi! #Gr8Chase pic.twitter.com/2Nfx5Bt6MR

Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) April 6, 2025

Congratulations, Ovi!

x - LA Kings (@LAKings) April 6, 2025

Congrats on an amazing accomplishment, Ovechkin! https://t.co/49MYFpjOkB

New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) April 6, 2025

The #Gr8Chase is complete.

Congrats, Ovi! pic.twitter.com/IP3cp7lzwu

x - Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 6, 2025

Gr8ness.

Congrats on 895, Ovi! #Gr8Chase pic.twitter.com/BN9fpiPV31

Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) April 6, 2025

Witnessing Gr8ness!

Congrats, Ovi! pic.twitter.com/vJhvPJPP0z

Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) April 6, 2025

Gr8ness achieved.

Congrats, Ovi! #Gr8Chase pic.twitter.com/18Qj4uXov7

Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) April 6, 2025

Congrats, Ovi https://t.co/ruow3WjzJf pic.twitter.com/RqAmJisM02

Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) April 6, 2025

The Gr8est ever. Congrats, Ovi! #Gr8Chase pic.twitter.com/Q7hlAfqdFZ

X - Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) April 6, 2025

From the Goalie to the Goal @NHL | #Gr8Chase pic.twitter.com/kw0a19LuYH

New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) April 6, 2025

"The Gr8 Chase" is over. Alex Ovechkin is the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer, surpassing the legendary Wayne Gretzky.

Ovechkin amassed this career total in a variety of ways. He had over 550 even-strength goals and 320 power-play goals, the majority scored from the fabled "Ovi spot." He's the leader in empty-net goals and overtime goals. Five of his goals came shorthanded, from a guy who has averaged eight seconds of penalty-killing time per game in his career.

But not every Ovechkin goal is created equally. Some are works of art; some are masterpieces. Some are important; some are career-defining.

Here are the top 20 goals in Ovechkin's career, covering both the NHL regular season and the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Many of them have become highlight-reel mainstays, while some make this ranking because of their significance to Ovechkin's legacy and story. Along the way you'll hear from Ovechkin, his teammates, coaches and opponents about these classic moments during the first 895 goals of the Washington Capitals star's career. Enjoy!

20. Dec. 18, 2015: Ovechkin shocks the Lightning

You could sense this one was imminent as Jason Chimera floated a juicy pass from the boards into the Lightning zone.

Ovi motored to collect the puck and then froze Tampa Bay defenseman Anton Stralman with a textbook curl-and-drag for a gorgeous power-play goal against Ben Bishop.

19. June 7, 2018: Ovechkin's Stanley Cup Final moment

We've seen Ovechkin score this kind of power-play goal hundreds of times. But until Game 5 against the Golden Knights, we'd never seen him score one in a clinching game for a Stanley Cup championship, after a postseason worthy of the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

"A lot of things were said at the end of last year in the press, Twitter, whatever," said Barry Trotz, who coached that championship team. "And they're hurtful, and I think he took it personally. He said, 'I'm going to show you I'm still a great player.' And he did."

18. March 9, 2011: Ovechkin plays defense vs. the Oilers

Criticisms of Ovechkin's defensive prowess have haunted him throughout his career, to the point where former Capitals coach Dale Hunter briefly tried to turn him into a shot blocker rather than a shot taker.

But Ovechkin had his moments on D, such as this play where he picked the pocket of Oilers defenseman Kurtis Foster on the forecheck to set up a 2-on-0 scoring chance and easily converted.

17. Oct. 5, 2005: Career goal No. 1

Where it all began. The Capitals opened their season at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets in front of an announced crowd of 16,325. Just 28 seconds after the Jackets took the lead in the second period, Ovechkin skated between the circles with his stick raised for a one-timer.

Dainius Zubrus found him, and Ovi blasted a shot past future trivia answer Pascal Leclaire for the first of many, many, many goals.

16. March 19, 2022: Ovechkin vs. Chicago (and Duncan Keith)

By the time Ovechkin schooled him on national television, future Hall of Fame defenseman Duncan Keith had already won a Norris Trophy and a Stanley Cup.

What he couldn't do was stop this move from Ovechkin, who tantalizingly dangled the puck within Keith's stick range before pulling it back through his legs and motoring around him for the goal, as three Blackhawks stood seemingly powerless around their net.

15. March 1, 2011: OT winner vs. Islanders

The NHL was playing 4-on-4 in overtime back in 2011, but Ovechkin was playing one-on-one against Frans Nielsen in this extra session against the Islanders.

Ovechkin turned the New York forward inside out with a burst of speed through the neutral zone. He then skated through a check attempt by Nielsen in the attacking zone before finishing this goal with a nasty backhander that goalie Nathan Lawson apparently didn't know was in Ovi's bag of tricks.

14. March 19, 2009: The 'hot stick' celebration

Ovechkin's 50th goal in the 2008-09 season sparked one of the most memorable and controversial moments of his career: the "hot stick" celebration, as Ovechkin laid his lumber on the ice and warmed his gloves over its imaginary flames.

It was a moment commemorated in everything from bobblehead dolls to video game cutscenes. But "Hockey Night in Canada" analyst Don Cherry hated it, criticizing Ovechkin's lack of "class" in showing up the Lightning and rookie goalie Mike McKenna.

Years later on the "I Was in Net For" podcast, McKenna admitted that he might have "slashed Ovechkin's stick into the next ZIP code" had he been a league veteran at the time. But he also said he and Ovechkin talked it out about a week later.

"I remember just saying 'Hi' and him saying, 'I did not mean to embarrass or disrespect you or anything. I thought we were having fun.' He was apologetic about it, and you know what? I was totally cool with it," McKenna said. "For him to even take that time to just be a human and say, 'This is what I was feeling in the moment,' I have a hard time holding that against anybody, especially if they can have the humility to think maybe it wasn't nice or right."

13. Nov. 20, 2014: The end boards goal vs. the Avalanche

This goal has a bit of everything that makes Ovechkin such a force. The speed through the neutral zone. The drag around defenseman Jan Hejda, followed by the brute force that had Hejda helplessly trying to put a body on him. Finally, the patience to stay with the play to collect the rebound and tuck it past goalie Reto Berra.

The only box not checked was a booming Ovechkin slap shot, as it went to the backhand to set up this sequence.

12. Oct. 10, 2015: Ovechkin schools Moore, Devils

Ovechkin's first goal of the 2015-16 season landed him in the highlight reel and gave New Jersey Devils defenseman John Moore a harsh education. After speeding into the zone, Ovechkin faked a move to his right and dangled to his left, leaving Moore to fecklessly wave his stick at the Capitals star. Ovechkin closed in on goalie Keith Kinkaid and deposited a shot over his glove and into the far top corner of the net.

"I think there he's going to cut to the middle," Moore told The Star-Ledger at the time. "To his credit, I think he kind of sold that. I could have a better stick and maybe even a better gap. You give him an inch and he'll capitalize on it. I'll learn from that."

11. May 1, 2018: The double-tap goal

The Capitals won their first Stanley Cup championship after finally overcoming their tormentors from Pittsburgh in the semifinals. Ovechkin scored one of his finest goals to win Game 3 of that series. Nicklas Backstrom did his usual yeoman's work on the play, generating a turnover in the defensive zone to spring a 2-on-1. He fed Ovechkin across the ice, and Ovechkin clanged a shot off the post behind Matt Murray ... and then popped the aerial rebound into the open net.

"I honestly think that from the first time we started playing with each other, we were just a good match. I was more of a playmaker and he was a goal scorer," Backstrom said recently. "I mean, I just think he loves to score goals. That's what's been driving him for all these years."

10. Jan. 19, 2006: Ovechkin goes full throttle vs. the Blues

As Capitals announcer Joe Beninati said it best: Ovechkin goes "full throttle" through the neutral zone and then absolutely flummoxes veteran St. Louis Blues defenseman Eric Weinrich before putting the puck through goalie Curtis Sanford.

In a 2022 interview with The Athletic, Ovechkin actually ranked this goal as his second favorite from a list of 10 compiled by the NHL.

"I had full speed and make a good move," he said. "It was a total different game than now. It was more wide-open. Now it's now more compact."

Ovechkin also noted that this goal came immediately after another classic goal he scored against Phoenix on Jan. 16 that you might be able to read more about later on this list ...

9. Jan. 25, 2014: Ovechkin vs. Canadiens juggle

In which we discover Ovechkin can juggle, too.

Ovi collects a rebound from a Carey Price save midair in back of the Montreal net. He hits it with his stick, juggles it off his stick again to nudge it closer to the goal mouth, then taps it past Price for a power-play goal, raising his arms and bellowing in celebration.

"You're not going to see a prettier goal from a so-called 'hands guy' in the NHL," Capitals announcer Craig Laughlin said.

8. Feb. 4, 2010: The one-handed classic

The 500th point of Ovechkin's career, this goal crystallizes the futility of trying to stop the Russian Machine when he's got the magic working.

Backstrom finds him in full stride. Rangers defenseman Michal Rozsival reaches out with his arm and attempts to impede Ovechkin. The referee's arm goes up and then almost immediately points to the net as Ovechkin dangled through the hold and sent a one-handed shot -- with his left arm, no less -- at the pads of Henrik Lundqvist. The puck glanced off King Henrik's stick and popped into the net.

Ovechkin would say after the game that it was, to his recollection, the first goal he ever scored with one hand on his stick because "my hand is not strong enough" to score that way. As the New York Times headline said after the Capitals' 6-5 win: "Rangers Surrender Game and Stage to Ovechkin Show."

7. April 6, 2025: Ovechkin eclipses Gretzky

At 12:34 of the second period against the New York Islanders on April 6, Ovechkin finally eclipsed "The Great One" with his 895th career goal. He could have broken the record in his previous game at home had he completed a hat trick against the Chicago Blackhawks, but Ovechkin vowed not set the mark on an empty netter. Instead, history was made with a vintage Ovi goal: a blast from the top of the circle on the power play that Ovechkin followed with a full belly slide down the ice in celebration.

The quality of this goal never mattered. The enormity of the moment in sports history necessitated its inclusion in the top 10, as Ovechkin netted career goal No. 895 to pass Gretzky and become the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer.

This is what Gretzky wanted. He encouraged Ovechkin, whether it was in interviews or private text messages during the chase. It's a lesson Gretzky learned when he was chasing the record himself, back when Hockey Hall of Famer Gordie Howe owned it.

"My dad said, 'You know what, somebody is going to break your record. And when he does, make sure you are as much a gentleman to him as Gordie Howe is to you. You smile, you shake his hand, and you are proud of what you accomplished. It's better for the game,'" Gretzky told Sportsnet in 2020.

The game has never been better, whether it's the speed or the defense or the goaltending or the coaching or the league's overall talent level. That Ovechkin shattered this record, in this era, is nothing short of extraordinary.

6. Dec. 26, 2008: Ovechkin slugs Buffalo

One word: "Buffaslug."

Ovechkin's 2008 instant classic goal was scored against a Buffalo Sabres team wearing one of the most maligned jerseys in NHL history, as the franchise forwent its classic crest for a new design featuring an angry cashew. We can only assume Ovi was making them pay for their crime against fashion with this end-to-end beauty.

He starts by tipping the puck away from a Sabres forechecker and then he's off to the races. Buffalo defenseman Henrik Tallinder does everything he can to track down Ovechkin and appears to take the puck away from him, but it turns out Ovechkin had it the entire time, like one of those pranks where a dollar bill is tied to a string. Ovechkin shoots as he falls to the ice, beating Patrick Lalime before sliding into him like a curling stone.

5. May 2, 2015: Ovechkin from his knee vs. the Rangers

Another playoff goal, during one of several postseason meetings between Ovechkin and the New York Rangers, and easily one of his most impressive given the personnel involved.

That's Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi on defense for the Rangers, one of the league's best pairings at that time. That's Hall of Famer Henrik Lundqvist in goal, looking behind him before looking to the rafters. Ovechkin split the defense, causing the Rangers blueliners to collide like a closing door. The Capitals star slipped through a crack but his leg got caught. He fell to his knee and snapped a shot before falling on his stomach.

Teammate Evgeny Kuznetsov felt the goal was "sick," according to the New York Post. "I said a couple of bad words in Russian but I said 'sick,'" he said.

4. Dec. 20, 2014: Too 'dangle-licious' for you

This goal against the New Jersey Devils inspired Capitals play-by-play announcer Joe Beninati to coin the term "dangle-licious" to describe the tally.

Ovechkin streaked through the neutral zone toward Devils defenseman Jon Merrill, who was probably breathing a sigh of relief knowing that teammate Travis Zajac was skating back to offer support. But as Zajac reached for the puck with his stick, Ovechkin toe-dragged around Merrill and headed to the crease. Goalie Cory Schneider had the bottom of the net closed off as Ovechkin fell to the ice ... only to have the Capitals star backhand the puck under the crossbar for another epic goal.

"He was flying tonight. You can see why he's such a dangerous player," Schneider said. "He made a great move. I stayed with him and I thought I had him. He was able to elevate it in tight like that and finish it off. I stuck with him and I thought I had that one. He made a great play on the end."

3. April 24, 2009: Ovechkin playoff goal vs. the Rangers

Straight-up video game moves from Ovechkin in this postseason goal against the Rangers.

After a turnover by Nikolai Zherdev, Ovechkin collects the puck and streaks down the ice. Chris Drury attempts to slow him up and gets deked into oblivion. Derek Morris makes an attempt, only to have Ovechkin dangle through his legs. Aaron Voros finally catches up to Ovechkin only to have the Capitals star smack the puck with his backhand to put it past Lundqvist.

"My backhand was terrible. Lucky bounce," Ovechkin said at the time.

Well, lucky for him.

2. Feb. 18, 2009: The 'Hamrlik goal'

In 2011, veteran defenseman Roman Hamrlik signed as a free agent with the Capitals, becoming Ovechkin's teammate. Which naturally begs the question: Did they ever talk about this goal?

Hamrlik was a member of the Montreal Canadiens back in 2009. He chased the puck to the red line where Ovechkin beat him in a race. Ovi poked the puck off the boards and around Hamrlik before pulling off a spin-o-rama to skate into the Montreal zone. Kyle Chipchura back checked to catch him, knocking Ovechkin to the ice. But as the Capitals star slid toward Carey Price, he flicked the puck on the forehand past the Montreal goaltender for a spectacular goal. Ovechkin sat up, raised his arms and waved for his teammates to join him in celebration.

Wes Johnson, the Capitals' longtime public address announcer, was seated right behind the glass where Ovechkin made his initial move.

"I thought, 'Oh my God, he passed the puck to himself.' He spun the defenseman and then he duped the goalie as he's falling down the ice," he said. "It was the most spectacular goal I had seen in my 25 years of doing this live."

1. Jan. 16, 2006: 'The Goal'

What's the point of a ranking if not to spark conversation and debate? To that end, any number of Ovechkin's nimble, flailing classics could have made the top spot, subverting expectations. That would be a stunt. That would be disingenuous.

"The Goal" is his "Citizen Kane," a masterpiece announcing the arrival of a true artist. When we close our eyes and think about any of the nearly 900 goals that have defined Ovechkin's career, our mind's eye will focus on that game in Glendale, Arizona, and what Sportsnet ranked as the greatest goal of the 21st century.

It was Ovechkin's rookie season, one in which he'd hit 30 goals by the middle of January. He collected the puck at center ice and skated in on Phoenix Coyotes defenseman Paul Mara. He tried to deke Mara, but the defenseman wasn't biting, raising his arms to try and knock Ovechkin off the puck. He was successful in that Ovechkin toppled to the ice. He was unsuccessful in that Ovechkin was still near enough to the puck.

As the Capitals star rolled onto his back, he had one hand on his stick to corral the puck and send a desperate shot to the Coyotes net. Goalie Brian Boucher flung his stick out as a last line of defense, only to look back at the cage as the puck glided across the line.

In the stands watching "The Goal"? An 8-year-old Coyotes fan named Auston Matthews, who would be inspired to score a few hundred of his own in the NHL. Behind the Coyotes' bench watching "The Goal"? Gretzky, Phoenix's head coach and the NHL's leading career goal-scorer -- at the time.

Early in the game, Beninati noted that Ovechkin was only 860 goals behind Gretzky's record total of 894. Laughlin laughed at the notion that a rookie was beginning down the path to catch The Great One.

"Good luck, Mr. Ovechkin," Beninati said. "Good luck."

Sevilla's LaLiga match with Atlético Madrid was briefly suspended on Sunday after fans threw pieces of card onto the pitch as part of a protest against the club's president and board.

Fans at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán are unhappy with the management of president José María del Nido Carrasco, and hundreds had gathered outside the stadium earlier to stage a protest ahead of kick-off.

Midway through the second half, fans in the north stand held up yellow cards and displayed a banner calling for "Junior" -- a nickname for Del Nido Carrasco -- to resign, and then threw the pieces of card onto the pitch.

Referee Cesar Soto Grado paused play for several minutes while stewards and other stadium staff could clean up, with card littering Atlético goalkeeper Jan Oblak's penalty area.

The crowd was twice asked to refrain from throwing objects onto the pitch in announcements made over the stadium speakers.

Sevilla are 11th in LaLiga, and lost the Seville Derby 2-1 to fierce rivals Real Betis last weekend, their first league defeat in the fixture since 2018.

In recent years Del Nido Carrasco has been involved in a series of confrontations with his father -- the club's ex-president -- José María del Nido Benavente, who is also a major shareholder and has sought to return to the position.

Sevilla have been one of Spain's most successful clubs this century, winning seven Europa Leagues -- most recently in 2023 -- but have struggled in LaLiga in recent seasons.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- - Lionel Messi scored for the third time in four Major League Soccer matches this season, helping Inter Miami get a 1-1 tie with Toronto FC on Sunday night.

It was Messi's 40th goal across all competitions since joining Inter Miami, extending his franchise record. The goal Sunday was a left-footed volley from the top of the 18-yard box about five minutes into first-half stoppage time.

The tie left Inter Miami (4-0-2) one point behind Columbus in the Eastern Conference, with one match in hand.

Messi's goal tied the match, three minutes after Federico Bernardeschi opened the scoring for Toronto (0-4-3). Messi had what appeared to be a goal wiped out earlier in the first half after it was determined he committed a foul shortly before that score.

Toronto had the lead for only the second time all season - the first was a 19-minute stretch against Chicago last month. This time, Messi took it away quickly.

Messi has had at least one point in all four MLS matches in which he has appeared this season for Inter Miami, which is 8-1-2 overall this season when adding in four victories in CONCACAF Champions Cup matches. The loss was a 1-0 decision against LAFC in a Champions Cup match last week; the second leg of that matchup is Wednesday in Fort Lauderdale.

Toronto plays Saturday at home against Minnesota. Inter Miami resumes MLS play next Sunday at the Chicago Fire.

------

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer

Ruben Amorim said that Manchester United and Manchester City aren't good enough to make the derby "a spectacle" after the two teams played out a disappointing 0-0 draw at Old Trafford on Sunday.

United are 13th in the Premier League table after what Amorim described as "the worst season in history." City, meanwhile, have relinquished their title and are in danger of missing out on a place in next season's Champions League.

Ahead of kickoff, the game was labelled as the most inconsequential Manchester derby in years and, with little entertainment and a lack of clear-cut chances, it delivered on the low expectations.

"We are not in the best moments to give the best spectacle to every fan," said Amorim. "I understand that we are doing the worst season in history. Manchester City won everything in the past, this season is struggling.

"When we are not fighting for the big things, of course it's different. But you have to look at the context of the game."

Despite picking up a point against their neighbours, United remain on course for their lowest Premier League finish and their lowest Premier League points total. Amorim's team has only recorded four wins in their last 12 games in all competitions and are yet to win back-to-back league games this season.

However, the Portuguese coach insists he is seeing signs of improvement.

"In the moment it's still really hard every day, but of course you can imagine that the next season is going to be so much different," said the United boss. "Everybody here is suffering a lot with all these changes and we have to show something in the next year, so right away.

"In the good days you think like that -- that it was important to come in the middle of the season, to work with the players, to improve the players as soon as possible, to start the next season with a better idea of what we want.

"Today was that day that we played well. Of course you can feel it in the game, it's not there, in the top level, the intensity, but you can also understand the context of both teams at this moment."

After their trip to face Lyon in the Europa League, United face Newcastle United in the Premier League on April 13, a day after City host Crystal Palace at Etihad Stadium.

Southampton set an unwanted record on Sunday as they became the first team in Premier League history to be relegated with seven matches left to play.

A 3-1 defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur in north London confirmed Southampton's fate. A first-half brace from Brennan Johnson and Mathys Tel's first Premier League goal earned all three points for Ange Postecoglou's men, while Mateus Fernandes scored for the visitors.

Ipswich Town and Derby County held the previous record for the earliest relegation in league history. They had their relegations confirmed with six matches remaining in 1994-95 and 2007-08, respectively.

"We knew it was probably going to be inevitable at some point, we haven't been good enough all season," Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale told Sky Sports. "We were dominated by the better team. We dug in in the second half but it is a sad day and one that this group of players will learn from."

"We need wins, points, performances. It has to come to a point where the fans are happy and singing. Fair play to those [fans] who came today, have been at St. Mary's and travelled around the country. We have to build some momentum going in to the Championship season."

Southampton are also on course to finish the campaign with the lowest recorded points tally. The 2007-08 Derby team infamously finished with 11 points -- one point more than Southampton have managed so far.

"We want to get as many points as we can until the end of the season," Ramsdale said. "No-one wants that record and we will do what we can but we will do what we can to get more points on the board."

It has been a miserable season for the south-coast club who attempted to change course when they fired manager Russell Martin in December.

The appointment of Ivan Juric failed to halt the club's downward momentum, with the Croatian coach so far only picking up a single win in his 13 games in charge. Southampton have lost 11 games in that period.

Asked whether there had been any discussions over his future, Juric said: "No, now we will see everything. We are thinking just about the games now. We will see now what everyone thinks, what I think.

"The fans deserve much more and we have to understand all of the mistakes we have made and then create something really strong."

Southampton host Aston Villa in their next Premier League fixture on April 12.