Fulham left it very late on the south coast but Marco Silva’s hopes of leading the Whites into Europe next season are still alive after second half strikes from Emile Smith Rowe and Ryan Sessegnon completed a crucial comeback victory over Southampton.
The already-relegated Saints sniffed a first home league win since eclipsing Everton at St. Mary’s on November 2 when Jack Stephens glanced Ryan Manning’s free-kick past Bernd Leno and it took the introduction of Sasa Lukic and Adama Traore at half time for the visitors to really test Aaron Ramsdale in the home goal. Smith Rowe drew Fulham level after expertly controlling Alex Iwobi’s chip before his clipped finish looped over the England international’s ex-Arsenal team-mate via Jan Bednarek’s outstretched leg. It looked as though the Saints dogged defending would at least take them beyond Derby’s record-low points table until Sessegnon scooched to send both Traore’s cross into the far corner and the Fulham fans wild.
Silva shuffled his pack after two damaging defeats to Bournemouth and Chelsea by switching Sessegnon to left back in place of Antonee Robinson and picking Willian in front of him whilst handing Harry Wilson his first start in three months on the opposite flank. Willian curled a trademark effort just wide of Ramsdale’s far post as early as the eleventh minute, but a succession of Andreas Pereira corners came to nothing before the hosts made their first set-play count. Former QPR wing Ryan Manning’s ball landed right on the head of Stephens, but the centre half had sauntered between Sander Berge and Calvin Bassey far too easily.
Stephens then found himself in the right place at the right time to clear Joachim Andersen’s header off the line and then threw himself in front of Berge’s shot from another corner – with those defensive interventions sandwiched either side of a strong run and shot by Kamaldeen Sulemana that Leno had to palm away. Fulham’s other chances fell to Raul Jimenez, who lost his composure from close range when a corner reached him at the back post before volleying well over from an excellent Kenny Tete cross.
A seething Silva sent Lukic and Traore out for the second period in place of Berge and the poor Pereira, with the Spaniard soon picking out Willian on the edge of the box. The Brazilian bent a brilliant shot around Ramsdale but was denied by the far post. Silva’s mood was not improved when Willian appeared to be fouled only for Tony Harrington to play on, allowing Kyle Walker-Peters to force another save out of Leno with a rising drive. The next time Willian came within shooting range he was shoved in the back by Flynn Downes – an intervention that saw his effort go wide – only for the infringement to go unnoticed by the referee.
Saints substitute Cameron Archer quickly made his presence felt with a rampaging run along the right wing that culminated in his cross-shot coming back off the near post before a limping Willian was replaced by Smith Rowe. Fulham’s record signing needed just six minutes to level matters, with his sublime touch killing Iwobi’s lofted pass stone dead in the penalty area. Ramsdale had no chance of denying his former team-mate once Smith Rowe’s disguised finish took a nick off the desperate Bednarek.
The final fifteen minutes saw Fulham flood forward, with an Iwobi header and Traore’s placed finish flying over the bar, but Silva’s introduction of Carlos Vinicius to play alongside Jimenez rather than replace the Mexican veteran underscored the importance of finding another goal. Ramsdale made a superb save to deny Smith Rowe a second, sprawling to his right to turn aside the attacking midfielder’s shot before gratefully grabbing a Jimenez header. But he had no chance in the second minute of added time after Tom Cairney had cleverly crafted the angle for Traore’s cross and Sessegnon stooped to steer his header past the Saints keeper.
Fulham’s third stoppage-time winner of the season keeps Silva’s European dream alive but their continental credentials will face a searching examination at Aston Villa next Saturday.
SOUTHAMPTON (3-4-2-1): Ramsdale; Harwood-Belis, Bednarek, Stephens; Walker-Peters, Manning, Downes, Ugochukwu; Fernandes (Bree 86), Sulemana (Dibling 78); Stewart (Archer 66). Subs (not used): McCarthy, Wood, Smallbone, Aribo, Welington, J. Robinson.
BOOKED: Sulemana.
GOAL: Stephens (16).
FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tete, R. Sessegnon, Andersen, Bassey; Berge (Lukic 45), Pereira (Traore 45); Wilson (Vinicius 86), Willian (Smith Rowe 66), Iwobi (Cairney 86); Jimenez. Subs (not used): Benda, Castagne, Cuenca, Reed.
BOOKED: Jimenez.
GOALS: Smith Rowe (72), R. Sessegnon (90+2).
REFEREE: Tony Harrington (Cleveland).
ATTENDANCE: 28,946.
What a great photo that is!
Wonderful to read such an immediate, dynamic and fact filled report while I am working in France. The closest I can get to really being there. We often foul mouth Smith Rowe so I am delighted he scored so well.
No square pegs in round holes today. Silva selected two actual wingers from the start -unlike in recent weeks and – shock, horror – played Sessegnon in his natural position of left back.
Unfortunately, in the first half, some of the round pegs were simply not good enough and we produced an awful, slow paced performance in the first 45 minutes. Somehow, against a team that has conceded 80 goals this season, and in a game we absolutely needed to win, we failed to get a single effort on target.
Thankfully, in another rare moment, Marco Silva did not wait until the hour mark to ring the changes and the introduction of Traore on the right, willing and able to attack the Southampton defence, made a huge difference and we played with much more attacking impetus and intent, dominating the second half.
I felt Berge was unlucky to be subbed but he really needs to be more assertive when in a decent position. His reluctance to shoot on occasions is bewildering. Pereira was totally ineffective though and the new corner routines seemed like something that schoolboys would dream up -where Wilson shapes up to be the taker, only for Pereira to send in yet another inaccurate cross. Seriously? It fooled nobody, yet the fact that we kept doing it suggests we look more closely at our set piece coach.
Really pleased for Smith Rowe who got himself into a great position and showed exceptional skill to control Iwobi’s chip-even though the deflection was fortunate. Nothing would please me, or all other Fulham fans, more than to see him come good.
Iwobi, apart from that chip was poor, yet again.
Sessegnon’s header for the winner was exceptional -more akin to a proper centre forward’s effort -though not our actual centre forward’s, who, despite giving 100%, has seen his goal touch desert him.
We definitely deserved the points based on that second half and, judging by the comments from players afterwards, we seem focused on Bournemouth. Perhaps it’s Brighton that we should be more concerned with as they could sneak in and destroy both of our hopes.
Not to finish on a downbeat note but I actually feel sick that Palace have reached the Cup Final and believe that it should have been us.
Can’t agree that Ryan’s a natural left back, Charles. He might have broken into the senior side playing there but he has proven most effective further forward. As you say, the header was magnificent – he’s probably the most natural finisher in the first team squad.
Palace have probably given Silva and his coaching staff a terrific template for how to beat Villa next week if it makes you feel any better
‘We were awful but they were awfuler’. That was my initial reaction – then I saw ESR’s goal. A lot of us have been less than happy with Two-Dads of late but when he comes good like that I have to applaud – keep it up mate, please, keep it up. We need to see goals coming from other players other than our South American cartel and Sess is showing himself more than willing to step up – again: nice one mate. Yes, I would like to see us shooting more often from outside the box, and someone else taking corners, but look where we are: eighth. I’ll say that again: our lovely little family club are EIGHTH in the Premier league. I agree with Chloe about that phot as well. COYW!!!
Thanks for the report. Sess is back to he no player we loved before his departure..well done Marco. I don’t think Sess is left back in the premier league but further up…sniffs a goal chance.
Love the photo.