Match Pack: Saints vs Fulham

Southampton vs Fulham

St Mary’s Stadium

Premier League

Saturday 15 May, 3pm BST

Referee: Craig Pawson

Assistants: Ian Hussin, Richard West

Fourth official: Robert Jones

VAR: David Coote

Assistant VAR: Neil Davis

Southampton’s turbulent 2021 has left them a short drop off the top half of the table, but with three games left to play and nine points up for grabs they could still rise to a position similar to that of the 2019/20 season.

Tuesday night’s win over Crystal Palace at St Mary’s acts as a huge boost for Ralph Hasenhüttl’s side, and with top-scorer Danny Ings back in action, they’ll be hoping to build on that victory.

With relegation confirmed for Fulham as they lost 2-0 to Burnley in the week, it’s a matter of pride for the three remaining games of the season.

Scott Parker’s side will be keen to finish on a high note before they return to Championship action in a couple of months time.

Jan Bednarek could be a doubt for Saturday’s clash at St Mary’s after being withdrawn from Tuesday night's win over Crystal Palace, with a small knock to the heel.

Oriol Romeu, Will Smallbone and Ryan Bertrand all remain sidelined.

For the visitors, Saints loanee Mario Lemina is ineligible to play against his parent club.

Harrison Reed, Tom Cairney and Terence Kongolo are also a doubt for the Cottagers.

FORM GUIDE

Southampton:
Crystal Palace (h) 3-1 (Ings, Adams)
Liverpool (a) 2-0
Leicester City (h) 1-1 (Ward-Prowse)
Tottenham Hotspur (a) 2-1 (Ings)
Leicester City (a) 1-0 FA Cup

Fulham:
Burnley (h) 0-2
Chelsea (a) 2-0
Arsenal (a) 1-1 (Maja)
Wolves (h) 0-1
Aston Villa (a) 3-1 (Mitrovic)

THE MANAGERS

Ralph Hasenhüttl: "Turning things around in a game after a very bad start is always very good.

Our last two home wins came after we first went behind by one or two goals and this definitely gives us a mental lift as we show we have the quality to turn things around now. And with Ingsy back on the pitch we are definitely a different side.”

Scott Parker: “There’s three games left, starting with a big game on Saturday. There’s disappointment around the place, of course there is, the season has ended with relegation for us.

But, as always, now with three games to play, there’s a focus on this weekend against Southampton.”

ONES TO WATCH

Danny Ings: Ings’ return to the Saints starting XI on Tuesday night was an emphatic one as he bagged himself a brace. The Southampton side we came to know earlier this season was sparked back into life and it’s hoped he can influence a similar performance on Saturday.

Bobby De Cordova-Reid: Cordova-Reid is Fulham’s highest scorer in the Premier League this season and while he hasn’t scored in his last 12 appearances, he remains a serious threat on the attack.
TOP PERFORMERS

Southampton:

Goals:
Danny Ings 13
James Ward-Prowse 9
Ché Adams 8

Assists:
Ward-Prowse, Armstrong 6
Ché Adams 5
Ings, Redmond 4

Bobby De Cordova-Reid 7

Mitrovic, Lookman 4

Maja, Cavaleiro 3

Mitrovic, Lookman 4

André-Frank Zambo Anguissa 3

Onomah, Tete, Reed 2

Played: 68

Fulham: 19

Draws: 22

Saints: 27

- Southampton have lost just one of their last eight Premier League matches against Fulham (W3 D4), a 3-2 defeat in November 2018 in Mark Hughes’ penultimate league game in charge of the Saints.

- There has only been one away win in 15 Premier League meetings between Southampton and Fulham, with Saints winning 3-0 at Craven Cottage under Mauricio Pochettino back in February 2014. Current Fulham manager Scott Parker started for the Cottagers in the match.

- Southampton have kept a clean sheet in six of their last seven meetings with Fulham in all competitions, with the exception being a 3-2 defeat in November 2018. Saints had kept just one clean sheet in 15 meetings with the Cottagers prior to this run.

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