FUL vs SOU
Match Centre

FULL TIME: Fulham 3-2 Southampton

It's all over at Craven Cottage, where Fulham have held on to secure a vital win that lifts them off the bottom and level on points with Southampton. It was a game full of drama, in which Saints took a first-half lead only to find themselves trailing at the interval. Stuart Armstrong's second goal of the game hauled the visitors level in style, but Aleksandar Mitrovic volleyed the winner.

Rico saves again

Saints have kept coming, and could not be accused of a lack of effort, but Højbjerg's shot takes a deflection, which takes the sting out of it and allows Rico to fall on top of it for a simple save.

Rico saves from Obafemi!

Saints are getting closer... Obafemi has been lively since he came on, and his shot on the turn from Elyounoussi's cross forces Rico into a vital stop, before his follow-up effort is blocked.

5️⃣ added minutes...

We're into stoppage time, as Højbjerg heads wide from a corner. You can sense the anxiety in the home crowd - there is plenty of time for Saints and Fulham are desperately hanging on here.

Obafemi shoots off target

Lemina fizzes a low pass into Obafemi, who brilliantly turns his man, but as the ball sits up he cuts across it and his shot veers away from goal.

Obafemi crowded out

Patient play from Saints, who wait for the right moment to unlock the defence as Targett gets in behind and picks out Obafemi, but the youngster is surrounded by white shirts and the ball is cleared against him for a goal kick.

Second change for Saints...

Obafemi comes on, replacing two-goal midfielder Armstrong, who has been nursing cramp.

Yellow Card for Wesley Hoedt (Southampton)

Hoedt joins Højbjerg in the referee's book.

Højbjerg denied by Rico

Good football from Saints, who are back in the ascendancy as they chase another equaliser. Neat interplay leads to Højbjerg faking to shoot on his right foot before letting fly with his left. It's a powerful strike, but too close to Rico, who beats it away.

Southampton substitution: Mohamed Elyounoussi replaces Charlie Austin

Gabbiadini will become Saints' focal point as Austin is withdrawn.

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Yellow Card for Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Southampton)

Højbjerg catches Cairney with a late sliding tackle in midfield.

GOALSCORER 17 Stuart Armstrong

What a strike!

Stunning equaliser from Saints! Cédric combines with Gabbiadini and plays a clever backheel into the path of Armstrong, who finishes in superb fashion, planting a curling shot high to Rico's left from 20 yards 😇

Crucial clearance from Mawson

Bright start to the second half from Saints, as Targett feeds Redmond down the left, whose cross is destined for Gabbiadini's head until Mawson intervenes and concedes a corner.

Saints get the second half started

It's a big 45 minutes for both sides... Come on, Saints! 💪

HALF TIME: Fulham 2-1 Southampton

It started so well for Saints, who should have taken the lead even before Stuart Armstrong fired in his first goal for the club after 18 minutes at Craven Cottage. But the hosts hit back, equalising through Aleksandar Mitrovic's header, before Andre Schurrle finished off a low cross from Ryan Sessegnon to turn the tide in favour of the Londoners. Work to do for Saints in the capital.

Sustained spell of Saints pressure...

Plenty of possession in the Fulham half as Saints enjoy a really positive spell, but there is no finishing product to go with some promising crossing positions.

Lemina heads over

Half a chance for Saints, as Targett's free-kick from wide on the left is met by Lemina at the near post, but the midfielder heads over from ten yards.

Rico saves from Gabbiadini

First time Gabbiadini has had the opportunity to step inside and left fly on his left foot. He looks to curl one, but Rico is in the right place to make a routine save.

GOALSCORER 17 Stuart Armstrong

Armstrong opens his Saints account!

He's already come close once in this game, but this time Armstrong finds the net! Redmond did excellently to find a cross from the left as it looked like the ball would run out of play. Le Marchand's header falls kindly for Armstrong, who takes the ball in his stride and drills a low shot into the bottom corner via a slight deflection. Get in!

What a chance for Gabbiadini 😩

Great opportunity for Saints! Armstrong rifles in a low shot that Rico can only parry into the path of Gabbiadini, but the Italian's shot is too close to the keeper, who was still on the ground, but recovers to make an important stop.

Saints force the first corner...

Good early intent from the visitors, who win the first corner. Warm applause for Targett as he trots across to take.

We're up and running!

Fulham have kicked off and we're under way at Craven Cottage. Come on, lads! 😇

The teams are in the tunnel... ⏳

We're counting down to kick-off and the players are ready to emerge from the tunnel to be greeted by a packed house at Craven Cottage, including a sold-out away end! Magnificent support from the travelling Saints fans 👏

Back on familiar territory!

Matt Targett is clearly a popular man at Craven Cottage - the Saints defender, who starts at left-back today, has been warmly received by the home fans following his contribution to Fulham's promotion success last season.

Warmed up 🔥

Both sides have completed their pre-match warm-ups and we're ten minutes from kick-off! Stay with us for regular live match updates 💪

The manager's final thoughts 💭

Mark Hughes speaks for the final time ahead of kick-off, which is now less than 15 minutes away!

Captain Pierre 😍

Your Saints skipper for the first time today is this man! He's also the winner of our key player poll 😇 thank you for voting!

Lemina focused on Fulham test

We're counting down to kick-off here at Craven Cottage! Hear from Saints midfielder Mario Lemina on arrival at the stadium...

Back at the Cottage 👊

The players are here and ready to go - take a look at our photographer's arrival photos! 📸

Saints are here! 👋

Check out the footage of Saints arriving at Craven Cottage, as the players get themselves in the zone ahead of the big kick-off...

2️⃣ changes for Saints 😇

The teams are in! Both Saints changes are enforced, as the suspended Ryan Bertrand and injured Danny Ings (hamstring) miss out. There are straight swaps in both positions, as Matt Targett comes in at left-back having starred in Fulham's promotion-winning season, and Charlie Austin - fresh from scoring that controversially disallowed goal against Watford - leads the line.

Saints team confirmed 😇

Starting XI: McCarthy, Cédric, Yoshida, Hoedt, Targett, Højbjerg, Lemina, Gabbiadini, Armstrong, Redmond, Austin.

we don't talk about them - we only talk about us. we come here to win this game. we have to show the same positive attitude on the pitch and get the three points.

mario lemina

southampton midfielder

Did you pick the right scorer? 

Watch Saints gear up for Fulham clash

We were in position at Staplewood to capture the best bits from training, as Saints were put through their paces ahead of today's game...

One hour until team news ⏳

We're counting down to kick-off here at Craven Cottage. In one hour's time, we'll have both starting line-ups for you - who would you like to see come into the Saints team today? Refresh this page at 2pm GMT to find out who Mark Hughes has entrusted this afternoon.

Under new management...

What to expect from Claudio Ranieri's Fulham? Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe investigates how the hosts' approach could change in the new manager's first game in charge, in the latest edition of our Tactical Watch column.

Get clued up with our Match Pack 🤓

Check out our extensive Match Pack for a comprehensive preview of today's game, including team news, managers' thoughts, the form guide and past results between the clubs.

it's a little bit difficult to really gauge where they're at in terms of preparation, formation and personnel because of their new manager, but it's about what we do. we have to go out there and execute what we talk about and what we prepare for - if we do that, they'll find it very difficult.

mark hughes

southampton manager

Hear from the boss! 💬

We caught up with Mark Hughes to get his thoughts ahead of his team's return to Premier League action after a two-week break for international fixtures. The Saints manager is relishing the challenge ahead, knowing he can now keep his squad focused exclusively on club matters for the foreseeable future.

Last time out in London 🤩

Remember Saints' last trip to the capital? It proved a successful visit for Mark Hughes and co - refresh your memory with these highlights!

It's matchday 👊

It's another big weekend in the Premier League, as Southampton return to the capital to face a Fulham team under new management. The hosts replaced Slavisa Jokanovic with Claudio Ranieri over the international break, and the Italian knows he needs positive results quickly. Stay with us for all the build-up and team news, before we provide live match updates and free commentary from Craven Cottage!