Fulham claimed their fourth draw in as many games in a Boxing Day battle with Southampton at Craven Cottage.
The Saints had second-half goals disallowed from Shane Long and Theo Walcott, courtesy of two perfectly executed offside traps by the Whites, in a game devoid of too much goalmouth action.
A self-isolating Scott Parker named a triple change from last time out at Newcastle, as Ivan Cavaleiro, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Harrison Reed returned to the starting line-up. Man-of-the-match at St. James’, Mario Lemina, was ineligible against his parent club.
Joachim Andersen took back over captain’s duties after a successful appeal in the week meant his contentious red card against the Magpies was overturned.
Fulham came out of the blocks strong and had a couple of half-chances in the opening seven minutes. Frank Anguissa, Ademola Lookman and Antonee Robinson were linking up well down the left flank and conjured a shot when Lookman darted inside his marker and fired towards goal, but it was straight at Alex McCarthy after taking a deflection.
Moments later and there was a decent shout for a Fulham penalty when the ball was seemingly elbowed out of the sky from Jan Bednarek in the box, but what probably would’ve been given earlier in the season was waved away on this occasion.
A cagey next 10 minutes burst back into life with the best chance of the contest so far after 24 minutes. Loftus-Cheek broke fast down the right and swept a delightful ball across the box to Lookman on the left-side of the area. He then unselfishly teed up Anguissa, but he didn’t connect properly and fumbled the chance for a clear poke on goal.
90 seconds later and the Saints made an opportunity of their own through a familiar source. After winning a free-kick 30 yards out, James Ward-Prowse looped a pinpoint effort towards the postage stamp top left of Alphonse Areola’s goal, requiring the fingertips of the Frenchman to tip it onto the crossbar. The rebound seemed destined to fall to the on-rushing Che Adams if not for a freakish spin on the ball, and it was a big let-off for Fulham.
The second half started slowly with both teams searching for the key to unlock the full three points, but after 52 minutes there was a sudden Fulham flurry. First, smart work between Lookman and Cavaleiro set Robinson free on the left side of the box. The ball was played slightly behind the left-back though, forcing him to cut back onto his weaker right foot and resulting in his shot being blocked.
Seconds later and roles were reversed. After winning back possession, Robinson lofted an inch-perfect ball into the box from deep where Cavaleiro was roaming and he had a free header from 10 yards out, but couldn’t steer his effort on target at the crucial moment.
In the 67th minute the Saints bought a chance out of nothing. A hopeful ball upfield found its way to Long on the edge of the box and the Irishman struck on the half-volley requiring Areola to tip over his goal.
From the resulting corner the ball squirmed through to Ryan Bertrand who attempted to cross back into the Fulham danger zone. Aina closed down quickly to cut it out and all was well bar a VAR penalty scare as referee Darren England checked and then denied what would’ve been an incredibly harsh handball.
Moments later and Ralph Hasenhüttl’s side thought they had made the breakthrough. Long was involved again and finished smartly after being slotted through on goal, but the linesman had his flag up instantly to chalk off the goal for offside.
In the 85th minute it was déjà vu for the Saints as they thought they had scored yet again. Adams was put though towards the touchline before whipping in a ferocious cross to Walcott who made no mistake to guide home from close-range. Adams’ foot was narrowly offside in the build-up, though, causing VAR to rule it out.
Substitute Aleksandar Mitrović was whiskers away from bagging all three points in the dying embers with his snapshot volley, but it wasn’t meant to be and Parker’s men picked up their fourth draw in four.
Fulham: Areola; De Cordova-Reid (Mitrović 83’), Aina, Andersen, Adarabioyo, Robinson; Anguissa, Reed; Loftus-Cheek, Cavaleiro, Lookman (Kebano 90’)
Southampton: McCarthy; Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Stephens, Bertrand; Walcott, Ward-Prowse, Diallo, Armstrong (Djenepo 90’); Long (N’Lundulu 90’), Adams
