SOUTHAMPTON MATCHDAY PREVIEW

SOUTHAMPTON V FULHAM | SATURDAY 13TH MAY 2023 | 3PM | ST MARY’S STADIUM | #SOUFUL

The opposition

• It’s been a tough campaign for Saints fans, who have seen three managers at the helm and just six wins recorded all season.
• They need to beat Fulham on Saturday to give themselves any chance of avoiding relegation, though they could yet go down at the weekend even if they win, should Everton and Nottingham Forest avoid defeat.
• Monday’s defeat at Forest was a crushing blow to their hopes, with the 4-3 defeat meaning there are now nine points separating the sides at the bottom of the table. They actually played fairly well at the City Ground, but that will be little consolation in their current situation.

Southampton team news

Romain Perraud will miss the remainder of the season after having surgery last week, as will Armel Bella-Kotchap, having injured his hamstring against Forest. Tino Livramento, Mohammed Salisu and Juan Larios are also expected to miss Saturday’s game, while Che Adams will have a late fitness test.

Fulham team news

The Whites’ only new team news is incredibly positive, with Aleksandar Mitrović available for selection once again after serving his eight-game ban. Daniel James has a hamstring strain, while Tim Ream and Andreas Pereira remain out.

Tickets

Fulham took the full allocation for this fixture, which has now sold out, meaning there will be 3,200 away fans at St Mary’s!

Travel disruption

Fans are advised to plan their journeys accordingly, with no trains running from London to Southampton on Saturday.

Weather

A sunny day, with highs of 19 degrees, is forecast on the south coast.

Accessibility information

Should you be attending and have any access requirements, you can contact Southampton on 02380 711 980 or [email protected]. Fans can also request an Audio Descriptive Commentary kit using these details.

Player insight

Willian is expecting a tough battle against a side with nothing to lose.

“We need to be ready because it’s going to be a good challenge for us in Southampton,” he said. “We want to reach our target, they want to win and try to stay in the Premier League next season, and it will be a good game to play.

“We have to expect a really hard game, we expect that when we have the ball they will come to press us everywhere, man to man. But it will be a good game.”