Leicester City’s 2-1 home win over West Ham United was insufficient, as Everton’s win over Bournemouth sent the 2015/16 Premier League winners down to the Championship.

Seven years after defying the odds to win the Premier League title, Leicester went into the season’s final game faced with the possibility of relegation, and so it happened.

While the hosts needed a win and Everton to drop points, Dean Smith would have urged his team to concentrate on themselves before kickoff.

After a tense first 20 minutes, Kelechi Iheanacho set up Harvey Barnes, who saw his tame attempt comfortably saved. Just seconds later, Iheanacho came agonisingly close to scoring after being teed up by James Maddison.

Leicester kept knocking, and in the 34th minute, Barnes produced a quick one-two with Iheanacho before stroking the ball beyond Lukasz Fabianski to give his team a crucial halftime lead.

The upbeat atmosphere at the King Power Stadium suddenly altered just before the hour mark as word came in of an Everton opening, putting them back in jeopardy. The shift in mood nearly coincided with a West Ham equaliser, but the woodwork came to Leicester’s rescue, preventing Sad Benrahma from establishing parity.

While the home crowd waited for a Bournemouth equaliser, Leicester extended their lead via Wout Faes, who headed home his first goal for the club following a stunning Youri Tielemans delivery.

The Hammers appeared to be in trouble, but Pablo Fornals set up a thrilling conclusion by firing the ball in off the near post to cut the hosts’ lead.

The Foxes held firm to take all three points, but Everton’s narrow victory ensured their relegation, bringing an end to a spectacular nine-year spell in English football’s top flight.

West Ham finished 14th in the Premier League and will now prepare for the UEFA Europa League Conference League final against Fiorentina on June 7.