Fraser the hero again as Saints snatch another last-gasp win
Ryan Fraser struck a stoppage-time winner once more as Southampton deservedly took three points in another dramatic finale on the road, this time at Millwall.
For so long it seemed a dominant display would not be rewarded, as Saints were thwarted time and time again by their former goalkeeper Bartosz Białkowski at The Den.
The 36-year-old shot-stopper, twice a promotion winner at St Mary’s, denied Stuart Armstrong, Carlos Alcaraz and Kamaldeen Sulemana before Adam Armstrong’s cutback was tucked away by Fraser in front of more than 3,000 ecstatic travelling fans.
Russell Martin named an unchanged starting line-up following the 3-1 home victory over Birmingham last time out, as James Bree continued at left-back and Adam Armstrong at centre-forward, with Alcaraz again starting on the right side of a three-pronged attack.
Millwall might be marooned in the bottom half of the table and in between managers, but the Lions are serial play-off contenders at this level and The Den remains a notoriously hostile environment for visiting teams.
The hosts were sharp into the tackle from the off, pouncing on every loose touch, but Saints soon settled into their familiar possession game.
A couple of early set-pieces did give the home fans something to get behind, as throw-ins were tossed into the box too, but neither side was able to register an attempt at goal until the 20th minute.
Kamaldeen was becoming a nuisance down the Saints left, and Adam Armstrong did well to keep his low cross alive and tee up namesake Stuart for a shot bound for the top corner until goalkeeper Białkowski, six years a Saint, made a full-length diving save.
Carlos Alcaraz was denied by the inspired Bartosz Białkowski on several occasions
It was not the first or last time Saints would work the ball from right to left, attempting to isolate Kamaldeen against his full-back. On one occasion, the ball ran loose for Alcaraz to strike first time, but his snapshot was beaten out by Polish veteran Białkowski.
But Millwall remained a threat from set-pieces, and were inches away from taking the lead when George Saville’s inswinging corner was headed back across goal by Jake Cooper and thundered against the crossbar from just a couple of yards out by centre-back partner Wes Harding.
The Londoners were gaining encouragement, as Murray Wallace’s cross picked out last season’s top scorer Tom Bradshaw, whose header was comfortably held by Gavin Bazunu.
There was more tempo about the second half following a scrappy first period. Kyle Walker-Peters did brilliantly to keep the ball in play from the byline, prompting Stuart Armstrong to skip past his man and force another save from Białkowski from Saints’ best chance to date.
At the other end, Jan Bednarek was called upon to make a crucial sliding interception to prevent a dangerous low cross finding Bradshaw, but it was a rare Millwall foray.
Walker-Peters was increasingly influential. After forcing Wallace to bring him down and go into the book, the full-back fizzed in a low cross that caused more uncertainty in the penalty area, as Saints racked up a flurry of corners soon after half time.
Kamaldeen Sulemana's fierce shot was kept out by Białkowski's best save of the day
Adam Armstrong blazed over from a decent chance as Saints upped the ante, before Martin made his first move by replacing Bree with Ryan Manning at left-back, giving his side fresh impetus down that side.
It was from the left that Kamaldeen jinked inside and stung the wrist of Białkowski, by far the busier keeper, who made perhaps his best save of all to deny the winger shortly before he was replaced by Fraser.
Saints kept coming, as Stuart Armstrong sent a low drive skidding inches wide, before Alcaraz claimed his shot struck an arm in the box and Fraser steered the rebound off target.
Alcaraz also tested Białkowski from a long-range free-kick, but time was running out for Saints to repeat the last-gasp heroics on the road that had already seen them claim points in stoppage time at Plymouth, Hull and Preston this season.
With five added minutes signalled, Adam Armstrong found space in the box to pick out Fraser for a simple tap-in that could mean so much in six months’ time.
Millwall: Białkowski, McNamara, Harding, Cooper (c), Wallace, Norton-Cuffy (Longman 64), De Norre, Saville, Honeyman (Emakhu 64), Flemming, Bradshaw (Nisbet 84).
Unused substitutes: Trueman, Hutchinson, Leonard, Mitchell, Campbell, Esse.
Booked: Wallace, Longman.
Southampton: Bazunu, Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Bree (Manning 71), Smallbone (Charles 83), Downes, S Armstrong (Adams 83), Alcaraz, A Armstrong (c), Kamaldeen (Fraser 77).
Unused substitutes: McCarthy, Holgate, Aribo, Edozie, Mara.
Goals: Fraser (90+3).
Booked: Downes, Bednarek.
Referee: James Linington
Attendance: 18,905 (3,017 away)
