If it was possible for Jean Tigana to be pleased that Fulham had ended a miserable run of six straight Premiership defeats but disappointed his side had taken their chances to beat Southampton, then that was how the Frenchman looked as he dissected an ultimately unfulfilling afternoon on the south coast. The Saints were sluggish and grateful for a point, but this game was a microcosm of Fulham’s first season in the top flight: the Whites were purposeful and pretty in possession but lacked the ruthlessness to put their opposition to the sword.
They couldn’t even capitalise on another gift from a nervous goalkeeper Paul Jones, who was clearly unsettled by playing in front of a back four who have given up far too many chances throughout this season of woe. Marlet was the grateful beneficiary of Jones’ reticence to come off his line and collect a through ball from Sylvain Legwinski. The French forward had the simplest of tasks after the Welsh goalkeeper spilled the ball at his feet and slammed his seventh goal of the season into the empty net.
Fulham should have been out of sight by half time. An uncertain display from Wayne Bridge, not displaying World Cup form on this evidence, saw him stripped of the ball by Barry Hayles, who fired into Jones’ legs. The Jamaican international then failed to hit the target after being presented with possession by Paul Williams, who looked desperately unfit, but by then Southampton had created an unlikely equaliser when Rory Delap lashed home a ball from Jason Dodd and the home fans’ relief was palpable.
Steed Malbranque went close to putting Fulham back in front when he seized on a mistake by Delap to race half the length of the field and beat Jones with a low shot that bounced back off the base of the post. Gordon Strachan stormed off the home dugout to implore his side to not be so casual in possession. The Saints did improve after the interval, but Fulham still looked the likelier to head home with the points. Sean Davis, back at the base of the visiting midfield after injury, worked a nice one-two with Marlet before shooting over before Jones was beaten by a looping Marlet header and had to be bailed out by Dodd’s desperate clearance off the line.
Saints substitute Kevin Davies, sent on for the rather anonymous Marian Pahars, nearly stole an undeserved winner when he battered the post with a low shot that had Edwin van der Sar grasping at thin air. A couple of minutes later, Fulham’s own substitute striker, Louis Saha, clipped the outside of the post with a shot after creating a chance for himself out of nothing – and, ultimately, both sides had to make do with a point that did little for either.
SOUTHAMPTON (4-4-2): Jones; Dodd, Bridge, Lundekvam, Williams; Telfer, Oakley, Delap, Svensson (Tessem 75); Pahars (K. Davies 75), Ormerod. Subs (not used): Moss, Monk, Fernandes.
BOOKED: Delap.
GOAL: Delap (21).
FULHAM (4-4-2): van der Sar; Finnan, Brevett, Melville, Goma; Davis (Saha 74), Collins (Harley 84), Legwinski, Malbranque; Marlet, Hayles (Boa Morte 72). Subs (not used): Taylor, Knight.
BOOKED: Brevett.
GOAL: Marlet (7).
REFEREE: Jeff Winter (Cleveland).
ATTENDANCE: 31,616.
