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Doomed Southampton needing a miracle as Fulham aim to secure top-half finish
Southampton 2-2 Fulham
Tournament: Premier League 2022-2023 | Venue: Southampton, St Mary's Stadium
Bet NowIt seems that the whole world knows that Southampton are doomed to face relegation this season, with anything other than a win officially confirming the worst here.
Ruben Selles has done an honourable job as interim manager, since the club sacked Nathan Jones, but it just hasn’t been enough. It’s possible that they’ll go down without winning another game this season.
They’ll face a massive rebuild in the summer, with many of their better players likely to leave the club in search of another Premier League team.
Fulham have the opportunity to cement their top-half spot here, with Chelsea six points behind with a game in hand.
The Cottagers won their first game in four last weekend, seeing off Leicester in an eight-goal thriller. Regardless of their results in the remaining three games, they’ll have enjoyed a successful season.
Reasons to be cheerful:
Just one defeat from their last 31 home games against Fulham
Have nothing more to lose here
Reasons to be fearful:
Guaranteed to finish with their lowest home points total
Winless in their last 10 league games
You have to wonder if Southampton would have been any worse off if they had just stuck with Ralph Hasenhuttl earlier in the season.
The manager was seen to be the problem when he was sacked in November, but in reality it has been multiple factors at a club that faces a huge rebuilding job in the summer.
The Saints will be a Championship club for the first time since 2011 if they fail to win here. If even they win their remaining three games, it’s unlikely to be enough to keep them up.
Regardless of their results, they are guaranteed to have their lowest ever Premier League home points total, having gone winless in their last 10 games.
They do have a solid record against their opponents at St Mary’s, with just one defeat from their last 31 meetings with Fulham.
Star Man – James Ward-Prowse
You have to feel for Ward-Prowse, who is too good to be a Championship player and will certainly have offers to stay in the Premier League this summer.
Reasons to be cheerful
Mitrovic returns after an eight-match suspension
One more win would mean 15 for the season – a club record in the top division
Reasons to be fearful
Poor record away to Saints
Andreas Pereira out for the season
Fulham won’t relish being the team that can sink Southampton this weekend, although they are in prime position to claim a few milestones of their own.
Another win would not only help them reach their highest total in the Premier League season – 15 – but also a club record for the number of away wins, at seven.
It’s been a remarkable season for Marco Silva’s men. At the start of the campaign, they were tipped by many to be in Southampton’s shoes right about now.
Positively, Aleksandar Mitrovic returns from suspension, although Andreas Pereira is out for the remaining games of the season, while Daniel James will also miss out here.
Star Man – Aleksandar Mitrovic
While Fulham are more than competitive without Mitrovic, he is their star man. One more goal would mean 12 for the season, his highest total in a Premier League campaign.
Atmosphere could be flat at St. Mary’s
Will Southampton take the handbrake off?
Saints could flop if Fulham score first
Fulham have taken 25 points from 27 available against bottom five teams this season, while Southampton haven’t won any of their 17 games against top half opposition.
It’s all pointing towards the away side here, although the Saints may feel that they can take the handbrake off with nothing else to lose here.
Everyone knows that they’re going down, it’s just a matter of time.
Perhaps that’ll play into Fulham’s hands too.
Southampton 2-2 Fulham
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