Southampton interim boss Simon Rusk mentioned that he hoped his facet’s goalless draw with Fulham will act as a catalyst of their bid to outlive within the Premier League.
The Saints noticed the departure of supervisor Russell Martin after a 5-0 defeat to Tottenham final week left the facet on the backside of the desk with just one win in 16 matches.
With incoming boss Ivan Juric watching on from the stands, Rusk guided Southampton to a valuable level in opposition to Fulham at Craven Cottage.
The consequence noticed Saints document a nil-nil draw within the Premier League for the primary time since doing so at Outdated Trafford in opposition to Manchester United in March 2023. Solely Everton (9) have failed to attain in additional English top-flight video games this season than the Saints (eight), nonetheless.
Additionally they accomplished 80% of their passes (335/418), their lowest go accuracy in a league recreation since Might 2023 in opposition to Liverpool below Ruben Selles (74%).
“We wished to construct on solidity for the group, discover that steadiness. We’re the primary group to ship a clear sheet right here this season,” Rusk informed BBC Sport.
“We’re delighted with that, and hopefully it may be a catalyst for the gamers to construct on and transfer forwards.”
Some extent on the street pic.twitter.com/a3jKAfbyZE
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) December 22, 2024
Rusk was additionally in cost as Southampton went down combating in opposition to Liverpool within the EFL Cup quarter-final on Wednesday.
“They’re an trustworthy group, they’re focussed as professionals and focussed on the job at hand, they gave every thing in these two video games, they will take confidence into no matter comes subsequent,” Rusk mentioned.
Former Roma supervisor Juric is predicted to be within the dugout as they host West Ham on Boxing Day after the Croatian solely had a watching transient in London as he awaited his work allow.
“In the end, the position of an interim head coach is much less about your imaginative and prescient of soccer and extra in regards to the immediacy of what the membership and group wants. I’ve drawn on my experiences and labored as arduous as I can to assist the gamers over the 2 video games,” Rusk mentioned of his two-match spell.
“My activity was to take accountability for the 2 video games, concentrate on that and nothing else. I had a quick chat with Ivan, I’m certain over the approaching weeks his id and concepts will turn out to be clear.”
In the meantime, Marco Silva expressed his frustration after his Fulham facet failed to attain for the primary time in 16 league matches and missed the possibility to go degree on factors with reigning champions Manchester Metropolis with a win.
“We must always have gained the sport positively,” Silva mentioned.
“We tried every thing from the beginning, it’s unattainable to complete a recreation with extra attacking gamers in our group. Our attacking line was by no means actually a menace to them.”
Fulham registered 16 pictures with 5 of them heading in the right direction, however didn’t discover a well beyond the Southampton defence regardless of producing an anticipated targets (xG) whole of 1.04.
They discover themselves in ninth place – three factors behind fifth-placed Bournemouth and 6 behind Nottingham Forest in fourth.
“We had two or three clear possibilities, however we should always have created extra. We have now to be extra incisive, extra medical. It’s a missed alternative for us positively, that was a recreation we win if we take higher selections,” Silva added.
Our newest #PL debutant.
Congratulations, @GodoMartial . pic.twitter.com/3ShetcdO1v
— Fulham Soccer Membership (@FulhamFC) December 22, 2024
