Marco Silva’s moments of genius are heralded by the Hammersmith End choir, but his decision to radically rotate a side that had held Liverpool at Anfield allowed Southampton to scrap for only their sixth Premier League point as Ivan Juric watched his new charges frustrate Fulham at a chilly Craven Cottage. The Whites, with Josh King and Tom Cairney paired together in a blend of promising and experienced playmakers in with Andreas Pereira suspended and Emile Smith Rowe injured, were thwarted by a great goalkeeping display from Aaron Ramsdale as Simon Rusk secured a precious point for the struggling Saints.
The England international tipped a curler from Alex Iwobi wide of the far post in the fourth minute and made a sensational second half stop from Harry Wilson, but the hosts didn’t do enough to break down a well-drilled visiting defence. Teenager King looked as bright as he was at Birmingham on his senior debut during his first Fulham start, biting into tackles and threading passes between the pink shirts, but Silva’s side struggled to create clear-cut chances. Wilson whistled one over the bar before Iwobi came close with another effort from the edge of the area, but the Nigerian international also wasted good positions with wayward shots.
King typified how Fulham upped the ante after the interval producing a peach of a cross that found Iwobi at the far post, but Southampton stood firm. The travelling fans celebrated their only shot on target, a tame drive at Leno from Adam Armstrong, but their discipline at other end of the pitch was commendable. Ramsdale received acclaim after somehow stopping Wilson from ghosting in at the back post after Adama Traore’s floated ball had caught his defenders unaware. It was a wonderful reaction save.
Raul Jimenez looked far more likely to break the deadlock than Rodrigo Muniz, who started in place of the Mexican after scoring at Liverpool, but the hosts struggled to get numbers into the penalty area until the closing stages. Martial Godo looked lively on his first Premier League appearance and created a late opening for Traore, who dragged a low drive agonisingly past the far post.
There was still time for the Saints to threaten a winner from a pair of stoppage-time set-pieces, but there was to be no winner in a game that was badly devoid of top-tier quality. Juric, who watched from the Johnny Haynes press box as he awaits a work permit to take over from Rusk, will hope that he can sprinkle some of his Torino magic rather than the reprise a ropey spell at Roma, which ended after just two months. The Croatian has his work cut out to keep Saints in the Premier League, but they already look much more competitive having sacked Russell Martin.
Silva’s selections ahead of a busy period of festive period were surprising. King showed the sort of drive and dimension that has seen him star for Fulham’s academy, but few of his team-mates moved the ball as swiftly as the teenager. That made it easy for the visitors to get behind the ball and record a creditable clean sheet, with the Fulham’s forward play only perking up once Jimenez, Traore and Godo were summoned from the bench. This felt like a missed opportunity to climb a congested table before Boxing Day’s derby – especially when Wilson limped off clutching his hamstring and substitute Sasa Lukic went down on his shoulder.
FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, Robinson, Diop, Bassey; Berge (Lukic 75), Cairney (Godo 76); Wilson (Vinicius 87), Iwobi, King (Traore 62); Muniz (Jimenez 62). Subs (not used): Benda, Andersen, R. Sessegnon, Cuenca.
BOOKED: Jimenez.
SOUTHAMPTON (3-4-1-2): Ramsdale, Wood, Bednarek, Harwood-Belis; Walker-Peters, Sugawara (Bree 80), Downes, Aribo (Ugochukwu 57); Fernandes; Dibling (Archer 45), Armstrong (Onachu 90+1). Subs (not used): McCarthy, Manning, Sulamena, Fraser, Lallana.
BOOKED: Downes, Sugawara, Ugochukwu.
REFEREE: Tim Robinson (West Sussex).
ATTENDANCE: 26,819.
Anybody know why ESR wasn’t even in the squad? It could have been just the game for him to show the doubters why we bought him. Don’t shoot me down, but I think we missed Pereira’s energy in the press. Good to see Josh King get a start – one of many I hope. Lukic’s shoulder problem a bit worrying. Let’s hope he and Berge are fit for C****** : we’ll need them.
dismal display, poor performance, worryingly woeful, Seasons Greetings to you all.
Truth is we lacked quality. Cairney is past his best, the two youg boys brought it could never make us win the match. As for our striker options, the less said the better. Very disappointing
Look, we didn’t lose. Plus it’s another point on the board. What else? Clean sheet-that’s always good…
That just about exhausts all the positives.
On the negative side, Smith Rowe was not in the starting lineup and not even on the bench-and we have zero idea why. Was he injured? Why are the fans not being informed?
Continuing on: Very worrying injury to Sander Berge and Lukic looked in a great deal of pain with his shoulder. We can ill afford to lose either. Again, updates for the fans would be appreciated.
Alex Iwobi chose this, of all days, to display the reasons why he was stuck in the wilderness at Everton for four anonymous seasons. From his first touch, he couldn’t put a foot right. But, IMO, he gets a pass because of his excellent performances so far, this season.
Rodrigo Muniz, on the other hand, given this golden opportunity to impress from the start, does not get forgiven so easily, Nor does Tom Cairney, also being given an unusual start. Enough of this “club captain” BS with the armband being passed around as if it means nothing. Choose a captain, Marco, and stick with that choice, regardless of whether Cairney starts or finishes a game. He has been a great servant and is still capable of the occasional bit of brilliance but, let’s be totally honest, his best days are far behind him.
Josh King showed enough quality, without being outstanding, but I ask the serious question: why are all Fulham prospects over the years, so small and frail? The list is quite long but why do we never seem to unearth players that have some heft and stature and are able to handle themselves against the Premiership behemoths. King was constantly being outmuscled in this full debut which, inevitably, took its toll and reduced his effectiveness.
Overall though, we will get games like this in a season of so many games but, from what I have see so far, we are a better counter attacking team, which is why our away performances have, in the main, been so outstanding and our home games have produced a trend of much huff and puff with very few solid chances being created.
Our strength in depth is worryingly negligible. On a good day, we could have won this game with a solitary goal but, to see Vinicius thrown on at the death, really brought home the desperation that exists regarding our strikers’ ability to score goals; something that needs to be addressed if we seriously want to progress.
I keep saying it but single points, however admirable, simply don’t work. Witness the positions of both Forest and Bournemouth, neither of whom will stay the course, IMO, and neither of whom can match our quality. Yet they have more wins (and 3 points). No team in the Premiership has more draws than Fulham-simple fact-and it’s an issue that needs to be resolved urgently.
It’s not fair to say another player was “preferred” to Andreas Pereira, as he was suspended for the match.
What’s annoyed me Silva is experienced enough to know if a team sack their manager the next game for the oppo won’t be easy we did not seem anything today no cohesion nothing we seem to be getting injuries at the wrong time now but no time is a good time, where is ESR and what was the reason he was not included? The injuries are worrying also why did Ryan Sessignon not start today on the left perhaps instead of Wilson, Iwobi chose this game to go missing Cairney I am afraid it time for the fond farewell the next two games will be really hard,with regards to the Captains armband surely Anderson must have it permanently now let’s forget loyalties and lastly please Marco let’s have a proven goal scorer signed in this up and coming window not someone on loan we have never replaced Mitrovic
Why did nobody tell Muniz the sleepout had finished. All he wanted to do was throw himself on the ground and have a lay down.
Very difficult to play against a team whose sole intention was to get everyone behind the ball. The players that went off injured is a worry as is ESR’s absence.
I don’t believe it. Southampton gets a point, by end of January the saints will be mid table. I still believe in Santa and the tooth fairy – nobody has told md self gte facts of life? Drunk Saints follower
Will – you’re absolutely right. Such are the perils of dictating your report in an Uber on the way home whilst riddled with flu. I’ve amended it to reflect your correction and I apologise.