Fulham gained just their second Premiership
win of the season as two first-half goals from Steed Malbranque saw off
Southampton.
Jean Tigana's men should have won by a much greater margin at Craven Cottage,
though, but for their profligacy in front of goal.
Last season's First Division champions, who have struggled with the transition
to the top flight, wasted numerous opportunities against another side at
the wrong end of the table.
Their lack of poise in the area could have cost them late on as Anders Svensson
struck the crossbar for the visitors, who had levelled through James Beattie.
Gordon Strachan, who saw his new side throw away a two-goal lead twice in
his first match in charge, a 3-3 draw with Ipswich in midweek, watched his
team outplayed for the most part after a quiet start.
A third away victory in the league was never on the cards and Malbranque,
a £4.5million summer signing who was recalled in place of Lee Clark,
made sure.
Svensson's creativity down the right produced the first threat of the match
but his third-minute centre following a dash down the right was negated
by Luis Boa Morte, tracking back into his own area.
Fulham for their part enjoyed much of the early possession but when Steve
Marlet's neat turn allowed him to run clear of the visitors' defence he
was denied by a well-timed challenge from Claus Lundekvam.
Then, just before the quarter-hour, the record £11.5million signing
escaped down the left only for his cross-shot to be repelled by Saints goalkeeper
Paul Jones.
Southampton, who have won twice on the road in the Premiership so far this
season, could have taken the lead in the 18th minute as the ball pinged
about the Fulham box and Matt Oakley's shot bobbled wide.
But it was the home side who always looked likelier to score and they did
so seven minutes later.
Barry Hayles, again preferred to Louis Saha up front, twisted and turned
in the box, his shot was blocked by Jones' legs and with the goalkeeper
floored, Marlet headed goalwards for Malbranque to steer in from a couple
of yards ahead of Jo Tessem.
Indecision in the Fulham backline allowed the visitors to restore parity,
however, in the 32nd-minute.
Tahar El Khalej's header from inside his own half looked innocuous enough
with Marian Pahars running back from an offside position.
But with the hosts' defence waiting for a whistle, James Beattie was allowed
to proceed by referee Andy d'Urso and despite getting the ball stuck under
his feet while advancing on Edwin van der Sar's goal, regained his composure
to sidefoot past the advancing Dutchman.
But the scores remained level for just 60 seconds as Malbranque, who like
Marlet gave up Champions League football with Lyon for west London, claimed
his second of the afternoon and fourth of the season.
Steve Finnan's low cross was taken off Marlet's toes by El Khalej, the ball
ran to Malbranque and he lifted into the roof of the net from eight yards.
Former Southampton winger Boa Morte, who had gone close just before the
interval with a drive into the side netting, went on a jinking run across
the area at the start of the second, helping the ball to Malbranque, whose
cross was turned over by Hayles.
Saha, on as a half-time replacement for Marlet, should have done better
when van der Sar's long ball forward sent him racing clear, lifting his
effort way too high.
Fulham, whose Achilles heel this season has been scoring goals, continued
to create chances and they were close to making it 3-1 through Boa Morte.
Hayles and Malbranque attempted to swap passes but the ball ran loose to
the Portugal international, who curled a left-footed attempt against an
upright and Saha flashed the rebound wide.
The latter's pace afforded him another opportunity moments later, though,
this time seizing on a punt forward, beating the onrushing Jones with his
lob, which drifted agonisingly wide.
Malbranque was denied a hat-trick 17 minutes from time as Jones spectacularly
tipped his well-placed effort from the edge of the area around a post.
And the Wales number one excelled again by rushing out to smother at Saha's
feet as the Cottagers' frustrations grew.
It could have been worse for Tigana's men in between those saves, however,
as Svensson's speculative 30-yarder beat van der Sar and thudded off the
crossbar for Pahars to somehow blaze over.
Then, substitute Dan Petrescu was left aghast at d'Urso's failure to spot
Rufus Brevett charging down a shot with his hands in the box.
With the home crowd tense, there could have been additions to the score
at either end but Boa Morte sent a shot wide and Pahars stabbed another
off target at the other end.
Fulham:
Van der Sar, Finnan, Goma, Melville, Brevett, Legwinski, Collins, Malbranque,
Marlet (Saha 45), Hayles, Boa Morte.
Subs Not Used: Taylor, Harley, Knight, Goldbaek.
Goals: Malbranque 25, 33.
Southampton:
Jones, Dodd, Bridge, Lundekvam (Williams 36), Delap, El Khalej, Svensson,
Tessem (Petrescu 55), Oakley, Pahars, Beattie (Davies 71).
Subs Not Used: Moss, Draper.
Booked: Beattie, Oakley.
Goals: Beattie 32.
Att: 18,771
Ref: A D'Urso (Billericay).
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