Fulham fought back to win 2-1 late on at Southampton on Saturday as Marco Silva’s side keep their hopes of European qualification alive.
MORE — Watch full replay
Saints went ahead through Jack Stephens as he headed home in the first half, but Fulham didn’t give up and substitute Emile Smith Rowe equalized with just over 15 minutes to go.
Ryan Sessegnon then scored the winner in stoppage time to spark wild celebrations in the away end. Southampton remain bottom and on 11 points, while Fulham are on 51 points and are right in the hunt for European qualification.
Silva’s subs see Fulham rally to keep European hopes alive
They were sloppy in the first half and were trailing at half time but Fulham kept plugging away and Marco Silva made the right subs to turn things around. Fulham’s squad is deep and they pretty much have two players of a very similar level for each position. They used that to their advantage as they gradually tired out a determined Southampton side, and the subs then pounced. First it was substitute Emile Smith Rowe who made a clever run and his deflected finish flew in. Then it was half time sub Adama Traore who crossed for the rejuvenated Ryan Sessegnon to deliver the winner. Fulham made hard work of this win but their strength is in their squad and so they’ve spread the goals around so evenly this season with five players scoring five or more goals but only Raul Jimenez has hit double figures with 10. With four games to go they’re in the hunt to finish in eighth place which will very likely be a European spot. That would be a significant achievement for Fulham under Marco Silva and this season they’ve been much more adventurous and they’ve gambled and chucked plenty of attacking players. That worked once again on Saturday to give them a big comeback win they needed ahead of four games against Aston Villa, Everton, Brentford and Manchester City to finish the season.
Southampton vs Fulham player ratings (via FotMob.com)
What’s next?
Southampton head to Leicester City on Saturday, May 3, while Fulham head to Aston Villa on the same day.
How to watch Southampton vs Fulham live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 10am ET Saturday
Venue: St. Mary’s Stadium — Southampton
TV Channel: Peacock
Streaming: Watch live on Peacock
Southampton vs Fulham score: 1-2
Stephens 14'; Smith Rowe 72', Sessegnon 90+2'
Southampton vs Fulham live updates — By Joe Prince-Wright
Sessegnon with a superb finish! — Southampton 1-2 Fulham
A cross is whipped in from the right and the ball is behind Sessegnon but he somehow flicks the header in to make it 2-1. What a finish and what a huge goal for a Fulham that is in their season.
Jimenez should score!
A great cross is whipped in and Raul Jimenez is free but heads it straight at Ramsdale. He has to do better there.
Ramsdale denies Smith Rowe
Great stop from Ramsdale as Smith Rowe squeezes a shot on goal but the Southampton goalkeeper tips it just wide. Just a few minutes to go.
Smith Rowe’s deflected shot flies in — Southampton 1-1 Fulham
Lovely ball over the top from Iwobi and it finds the sub Smith Rowe. He is clean through and his effort deflects off Bednarek and loops over Ramsdale. Saints are gutted about that, but they can’t really complain about an equalizer for Fulham.
Archer hits the post!
On as a sub for Ross Stewart, Cameron Archer has a pop from a tight angle but it rattles against the post. That nearly caught out Leno.
Smith Rowe is on
Willian has been excellent but he’s only last 65 minutes. Emile Smith Rowe is on in his place. Can he create the bit of magic Fulham need late on?
Leno denies Walker-Peters
Saints with a rare break from Downes and the ball drops to Walker-Peters who swivels and hits a shot on target which Leno pushes away. Almost a second for Saints!
Willian hits the post!
Fulham are cranking up the pressure and Traore cuts inside under little pressure from Southampton. The ball drops to Willian and he curls a shot which beats Ramsdale but hits the post. Fulham so close to an equalizer. Southampton have to start keeping hold of the ball and ease some of this pressure.
Lukic, Traore on
Two half time subs for Fulham with Sasa Lukic and Adama Traore on for Sander Berge and Andreas Pereira. Marco Silva needs a quick start to the second period from his team to set the tempo. Everything has to be quicker from Fulham.
Half time: Southampton 1-0 Fulham
Saints are ahead at the break and Fulham haven’t really got going in this game. Stephens buried a header and Southampton have looked decent on the counter on a few occasions. Fulham have whipped some dangerous crosses into the box but Raul Jimenez hasn’t been able to finish and Saints lead. Will Marco Silva makes some changes at the break as Fulham need a big turnaround to boost their European hopes?
Brilliant defending from Stephens
Great free kick to the back post and Berge looks certain to tape home for Fulham, but Stephens arrives with a perfect interception. That is excellent defending. Stephens has come up big at both ends so far. Fulham are building pressure before the break.
Sulemana has a shot after Andersen flew in
Kamaldeen Sulemana bounces off Joachim Andersen, who flew in recklessly. The Ghanian winger somehow stays on his feet and then fires a low shot on goal which Leno saves. Saints are doing okay. Fulham have had plenty of corners but are looking a bit lackluster in this first half.
Stewart taken down
Saints play it over the top on the counter and Ross Stewart is in. But he takes his time to get a shot away and Bassey gets in and barges him off the ball. No penalty but this is better from Saints.
Stephens heads home — Southampton 1-0 Fulham
Manning whips in a brilliant free kick and Southampton skipper Jack Stephens flicks home a header to put the hosts ahead. Who would have predicted that?
Willian curls a beauty just wide
The veteran Brazilian winger beats Walker-Peters easily and cuts inside on his right foot and curls a beauty towards the far corner. It flies just wide. That was lovely stuff from Willian as he rolled back the years. Fulham on top now.
Southampton lineup
Ramsdale; Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Stephens; Walker-Peters, Ugochukwu, Downes, Manning; Fernandes, Sulemana; Stewart
Fulham lineup
Leno; Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Sessegnon; Berge, Pereira; Willian, Wilson, Iwobi; Jimenez
Southampton team news
OUT: Albert Gronbaek (undisclosed) | QUESTIONABLE: Charlie Taylor (undisclosed)
Fulham team news
OUT: Rodrigo Muniz (knock), Reiss Nelson (hamstring) | QUESTIONABLE: Emile Smith Rowe (knock)
Southampton vs Fulham prediction
Fulham could use a clean sheet more than anything (they haven’t had one in four outings) and Saints have scored the fewest goals of any side in the league this season (24 in 33 games), so you might think… but, no. Southampton 2-1 Fulham.
Southampton vs Fulham preview
Marco Silva’s side was right in the thick of the hunt for European football until inconsistent form (3W-0D-4L in their last seven Premier League games) struck in late February, now they sit in 9th, two places and two points above fellow west London side Brentford in the race for 10th (or better). Fulham had a 1-0 lead over another west London outfit, Chelsea, after 82 minutes last weekend but came away without a single point after Pedro Neto bagged the winning goal in stoppage time.
Speaking of stoppage-time goals, Southampton got one from Lesley Ogochukwu and it turned out to be a significant one despite the fact that Saints are already going back down to the EFL Championship. The 1-1 draw with West ham last weekend means Southampton won’t set a new record for fewest points won in a PL season after tying Derby County’s infamous mark (11, in 2007-08), now they need just one more to avoid a share of the record.
