Match Report
23 points separated the sides: Fulham U23 1st on 62, Southampton U23 6th on 39. Fulham U23 had been under-performing their position — 7th on five-round form against 1st in the table. Against a league average of 1.72 goals per team per game, Southampton U23 ran at 1.73 scored and 1.62 conceded, Fulham U23 at 2.46 and 1.04.
15 games without a win framed Southampton U23's arrival. Momentum sat with Fulham U23, winners of their last four. The last-five ledger: Southampton U23 2/15, Fulham U23 13/15.
Staplewood Training Ground, capacity 32,505, hosted the game. Half-time and full-time told different stories: it was 0-0 at the break, before 3 more goals closed it at 2-1.
Goal scorers
Southampton U23: D. Ballard (71'), Kazeem Olaigbe (87') · Fulham U23: J. Tiehi (76')
Key stats
Possession: Southampton U23 44% · Fulham U23 56% · Total shots: 8-16 · On target: 6-5 · Corners: 2-8