The Tanner Report: Southampton 1 Fulham 2

Fulham were expected to beat already-relegated Southampton and duly did so.

All the Saints had to play for was beating Derby’s relegation record of only 11 points. Their’s was a textbook on how not to stay up.  They sacked Russell Martin, who achieved promotion, and then his successor.

New gaffer Stephen Rust is doing his best but they are doomed. Fulham were without Rodrigo Muniz and Antonee  Robinson. Surprisingly ex-Saint Harrison Ford was not the man-for-man replacement for Lukic Andreas, dropping deeper.

Fulham were dismal in the first half and even the website commentators – Gentleman Jim and Jamie Reed – were criticising the lads rather than the referee.

However, the introduction in the second half of Émile Smith Rowe and Adama Traoré swung the play Fulham’s way.

Smith Rowe brought the ball down and his shot then took a deflection and lobbed over keeper Ramsdale.

Ryan Sessegnon scored the winner in extra time with a clever header from a cross behind him. Ryan is still 24. I guess Spurs signed him in order to sell him on (like Gareth Bale) but he was the victim of injury and being overlooked by successive managers/coaches. He always had the ability to pop up with a goal and did so yesterday.

Fulham did have something to play for as the 8th place is up for grabs – and with that the possibility of European competition.