Southampton secured a crucial point with a resilient defensive performance against Fulham in a goalless draw at Craven Cottage on Sunday. This was the Saints’ first Premier League outing since Russell Martin’s departure, with new manager Ivan Juric watching from the stands.
Match Summary
First Half:
- Fulham dominated possession and dictated the tempo early on, but Southampton’s compact defense stifled the hosts’ attack.
- Harry Wilson and Alex Iwobi tried their luck from distance, but neither effort troubled Aaron Ramsdale, who made a confident return to the Saints’ starting lineup.
Second Half:
- Fulham continued to probe, coming closest in the 67th minute when Wilson’s close-range effort was superbly saved by Ramsdale.
- Substitute Adama Traore nearly found a breakthrough late on with a powerful strike that narrowly missed the target.
- Southampton managed just one shot on target throughout the game but held firm to frustrate the hosts and secure a valuable point.
Key Stats
- Fulham’s Scoring Streak Ends: The Cottagers failed to score for the first time in 16 matches, despite generating an expected goals (xG) of 1.04 from 16 attempts.
- Southampton’s Defensive Resolve: The Saints, who had conceded 36 goals in their previous 16 matches, delivered a disciplined display to keep a rare clean sheet.
- Lack of Attacking Threat: Southampton managed just five shots with an xG of 0.26, underscoring the need for improvement in the final third under Juric.
Player Ratings
Fulham (4-2-3-1)
- GK: Bernd Leno – 6.8/10 – Largely untested but commanded his area well.
- RB: Kenny Tete – 6.7/10 – Solid defensively and supported the attack when possible.
- CB: Issa Diop – 6.9/10 – Reliable at the back, nullifying Southampton’s limited threat.
- CB: Tim Ream – 6.8/10 – Composed on the ball and effective in breaking up play.
- LB: Antonee Robinson – 6.5/10 – Energetic down the left but lacked quality in the final third.
- CM: Joao Palhinha – 7.2/10 – Dominated the midfield with his tackling and distribution.
- CM: Harrison Reed – 6.6/10 – Worked tirelessly but lacked creativity.
- RW: Harry Wilson – 6.9/10 – Fulham’s brightest spark, with his effort forcing the best save of the game.
- AM: Andreas Pereira – 6.4/10 – Struggled to find space in a congested midfield.
- LW: Alex Iwobi – 6.5/10 – Showed flashes of creativity but lacked end product.
- ST: Raul Jimenez – 6.0/10 – Isolated for large parts and failed to impact the game.
Substitutes:
- Adama Traore (65′) – 6.8/10 – Added energy and came close to breaking the deadlock.
- Carlos Vinicius (78′) – 6.0/10 – Offered little in his short cameo.
Southampton (4-4-2)
- GK: Aaron Ramsdale – 7.5/10 – Made a crucial save to deny Wilson and commanded his box well.
- RB: Kyle Walker-Peters – 6.8/10 – Defended solidly and ventured forward on rare occasions.
- CB: Jan Bednarek – 7.2/10 – Marshaled the backline effectively and dealt with Fulham’s crosses.
- CB: Armel Bella-Kotchap – 7.0/10 – Strong in aerial duels and disciplined throughout.
- LB: Romain Perraud – 6.5/10 – Defended resolutely but offered little going forward.
- RM: Stuart Armstrong – 6.3/10 – Worked hard defensively but lacked attacking intent.
- CM: James Ward-Prowse – 6.5/10 – Tried to spark attacks but was largely subdued.
- CM: Romeo Lavia – 6.8/10 – Broke up play effectively and shielded the defense.
- LM: Moussa Djenepo – 6.0/10 – Failed to make a significant impact.
- ST: Adam Armstrong – 5.8/10 – Struggled to find space against Fulham’s defense.
- ST: Che Adams – 5.9/10 – Offered little in terms of goal threat.
Substitutes:
- Theo Walcott (70′) – 6.0/10 – Added experience but couldn’t influence the game.
- Joe Aribo (80′) – N/A – Had minimal time to make an impact.
Key Takeaways
- Juric’s Immediate Impact: Ivan Juric’s presence seemed to galvanize Southampton’s defense, but the lack of attacking threat remains a significant concern.
- Fulham’s Frustration: Despite dominating possession and creating more chances, Fulham’s inability to convert opportunities cost them.
- Player of the Match: Aaron Ramsdale – The Southampton goalkeeper was pivotal in securing a rare clean sheet for the Saints.
What’s Next?
- Fulham: The Cottagers will look to bounce back when they travel to face Brentford on December 27.
- Southampton: The Saints will aim to build on this result as they host Brighton on December 28.
Southampton remain rooted to the bottom of the table but can take heart from this resilient display, while Fulham will rue their missed chances in a game they controlled.
