SOU vs FUL
Match Centre

FULL-TIME: Saints 2-0 Fulham

YES! A huge three points for Saints who won't deserve to win a game this season any more than they have here tonight . Romeu and Ward-Prowse the scorers and we're out of the relegation zone. 

The moment that sealed the points?

Saints looking comfortable here as we edge towards the end of the 90. Fulham haven't really threatened in the second half...

Anguissa way off target

Saints clear a corner as far as Anguissa who wildly swipes his shot out of play for a goal kick. Sums up their night, Fulham have been nowhere near Saints.

Long flashes across goal

That's what Shane's in there for. The Irishman sets off and streaks past the Fulham defence to collect Ward-Prowse's precise through ball and flash a shot across the face of goal.

Babel off the bar!

First real chance of the night for Fulham as Ryan Babel shapes a left-footed shot onto the crossbar with Gunn beaten.

Chance! No connection from Prowsey!

St Mary's holds its breath as Tim Ream misreads a bouncing ball in the box, it falls for Prowsey who air-kicks from a great position.

Southampton substitution: Shane Long replaces Charlie Austin

A huge ovation for Austin as Shane Long sprints on to take his place. 

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Current mood around St Mary's 👆

Plenty to left to play in this game of course but Saints are rocking and rolling as we approach the final 30 minutes. Højbjerg's surging run wins a free-kick after a foul from McDonald.

Gunn saves from Anguissa

One of very few efforts on goal here for Fulham and it comes from a long way out. Anguissa hits on and it's easily held at the second attempt by Angus Gunn.

Saints looking strong

It's as you were at the start of this second half. Those goals have given the hosts a real confidence boost and both fans and players are really enjoying themselves out there.

LET'S FINISH THIS!

HERE WE GO AGAIN, the second half is underway at St Mary's! 

HALF-TIME: Saints 2-0 Fulham

A perfect half for Saints who hold a commanding lead at the interval. Romeu got us going before Ward-Prowse slotted in on 40 minutes.

Huge 45 minutes.

This is pretty much the scene at St Mary's right now where Prowsey and Ori have us RIGHT on top. Two goals the advantage as we approach the end of a half that we've totally dominated.

GOALSCORER 16 James Ward-Prowse

GOAL: SAINTS 2-0 FULHAM!!

IT'S TWO AND IT'S PROWSEY! Redmond's shot is spilled by Rico and the midfield maestro is there to poke home on the rebound! 

CHANCE! Højbjerg just wide...

Only one side in this game at the moment: almost a second here for Saints as Højbjerg guides a shot just past the far post from the edge of the penalty area.

Relief!

We needed that and you can see it in the faces of Ryan Bertrand, Jan Bednarek and Maya Yoshida. An early goal for Saints and a very well deserved one based on the performance so far.

GOALSCORER 14 Oriol Romeu

GOAL: Saints 1-0 Fulham!! 

GET IN THERE, ORI! Ward-Prowse's corner is only cleared as far as Romeu whose left-footed volley ricochets through the crowd and into the back of the net! 

Rico holds on to Redmond effort

Ryan Babel's mistake presents possession to Saints. Redmond's first thought is forwards and his deflected shot almost catches Rico off guard.

Austin header disallowed

A routine decision for referee Anthony Taylor: Charlie Austin heads the ball into an empty net after jumping unfairly with Fulham 'keeper Sergio Rico.

Early frustration

No doubting the commitment of the Saints players out there tonight. Nathan Redmond smashes a ball into the advertising boards behind the goal after overrunning and conceding a goal kick. The fans respond and acknowledge the positive start may by their team...

Saints probing for an opener

Is this the pattern of tonight's game set? Saints keeping possession confidently and Fulham have all 11 men behind the ball.  

Redmond shoots over

Promising reply from Saints who work the ball to Redmond for the winger to cut inside and whip a shot over the top of Sergio Rico's crossbar.

Fulham in possession

A tidy start from the visitors, who arrive here tonight as the only side in the Premier League yet to win a game away from home this season.

SHOWTIME AT ST MARY'S!

Saints get us started on a mild and crucial night at St Mary's! COYR!!

The countdown is ON!

Warm-ups well underway at St Mary's with just over 20 minutes to go until kick off. A quick start is absolutely needed tonight against a side that has conceded 30 goals since the appointment of their new coach, Claudio Ranieri. Only Bournemouth (32) have let in more.

we are in desperate need of a win and thar is our main focus. it is a big game, but we've found a philosophy and it's about trusting that process.

jannik vestergaard

southampton fc

More of this please, lads!

We're looking for something along these lines from the lads tonight. Let's throw it back to our last home victory, it came against Everton on 19 January...

Three changes from Arsenal

Same system, new faces for Saints tonight as Maya Yoshida, Charlie Austin and Ryan Bertrand come in for Jack Stephens, Matt Targett and Stuart Armstrong. 

FULHAM XI TO FACE SAINTS

FULHAM XI: Rico; Odoi, Chambers, Ream, Bryan; Babel, McDonald, Cairney, Nordtveit, Zambo-Anguissa; Mitrovic

⚠️ SAINTS XI VS FULHAM ⚠️

SAINTS XI: Gunn; Yoshida, Bednarek, Vestergaard; Valery, Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Højbjerg, Bertrand; Redmond, Austin. 

SUBS: McCarthy, Stephens, Long, Elyounoussi, Gallagher, Armstrong, Targett. 

Heading in! 

All focus as Saints head in for tonight's clash with Fulham...

Wednesday night football 😍

Taken not long ago, these shots show St Mary's basking in the unseasonal warmth down on the south coast. The scene is set for a big night of Premier League football...

ONE HOUR to team news

The Saints squad will be checking into St Mary's very shortly indeed, which means we will be waiting just under an hour more until tonight's teams will be revealed...

SAINTS Magazine: Shane Long

Saints team news

A double attacking injury blow for Saints was delivered by Ralph Hasenhüttl in yesterday's press conference. Michael Obafemi is set to be out for the rest of the season after aggravating a hamstring injury at Arsenal while the home match against Spurs is a possible moment for Danny Ings to make his return to the team. 

DID YOU KNOW?

Saints are unbeaten in the last 19 home league games against Fulham (W13 D6) since a 1-2 loss in October 1935. Only Coventry have struggled worse on the south coast in that time (22 matches). 

Arsenal to Fulham

No time to think about Sunday's result for Saints. Ralph Hasenhüttl's men were straight back to work on Monday and Tuesday ahead of tonight's game. Take a look through the pick of the photos from Staplewood so far this week...

we should represent southampton football club and what it is about to be a supporter of this club - to know what a very important match this is.

ralph hasenhüttl

southampton fc

Hasenhüttl: Pride in the shirt

A quick turnaround from Sunday's defeat to Arsenal but we were back in Ralph Hasenhüttl's office to discuss tonight's game and the Austrian is hungry for a return to winning ways...

The Premier League picture

So here's the scenario going into tonight's game: 

- Saints sit in 18th, one point behind Cardiff and a full seven ahead of Fulham.  A win pulls Saints out of the relegation zone and leaves tonight's visitors 10 from safety. 

📍 St Mary's: Saints vs Fulham

A big night awaits at St Mary's, no two ways about it. It's Saints against Fulham here in one of the most important fixtures of the season so far. 

It's Saints versus Cottagers, Red versus White, 18th versus 19th and it's all coming right up here on Matchday Live...