We knew it was probably over, it is now

Rishi Sunak’s calendar for May 13th:

- Southampton Vs Fulham 3pm

- House of Commons Eurovision party 8pm

Prime Minister in attendance for arguably the biggest home match this season. A match with a more of a Question Time feel than that of a defining moment in the history of Southampton. Anything other than a victory against Fulham would see Southampton relegated to the championship after 11 years in the Premier League, even then an Everton win Sunday would relegate the south coast side. 

Southampton 4-1 Fulham (Otherwise known as 0-2)

Biggest worry going into the crunch clash with the Cottagers was that we’d completely capitulate and accept relegation willingly.

We duly did. Bare minimum of fight and endeavour, clearly too much to ask for.

Fulham bettered us in every statistic. Fully deserved of the away victory however they won at a canter. The hangover from Monday night against Forest evident.

Southampton posted a xG of 0.35 from a total of 5 shots, only one shot was inside the box. A towering header from Onuachu from a KWP cross that sailed over the bar. This chance contributing 0.21 towards our total xG. The other efforts all speculative strikes from outside the box. Conversely Fulham had a xG of 1.40 from 9 shots, 4 inside the box including the pivotal goals.

One particular stat did see Southampton out-score their opponents, 4-1. Sadly though the stat of topic here is offsides. Much like the Bournemouth game, a hope inducing goal was chalked off for offside. JWP slipped through Charly Alcaraz early in the second half. One on one, Charly calmly slotted home however it would not stand. Unlike the Bournemouth game though the officials caught this in the moment, at least a painful purple VAR screen of doom didn’t loom over St Mary’s.

The impending sense of doom did come a mere 57 seconds later. Fulham came forward with Tom Cairney, who slipped it through to Harrison Reed. The pass slightly in front of the former Saint, the tenacious midfielder slid in against Lyanco, the ball ricocheted into the path of Vinicius Junior to score into an empty net from 6 yards out. Fitting the academy graduate, deemed surplus to requirements and not up to the standard when sold to Fulham in 2020, would play a role in our demise. 

0-1, hapless and helpless the stubborn turd is finally flushing.

The aforementioned Onuachu chance was in the 54th minute, after going a goal down. Despite having a 6ft 8in striker Southampton only managed 3 successful crosses, Onuachu himself won 7/9 of his aerial duels in the match. If only there could have been some synergy between these two stats we might have seen more goalscoring intent. 

When you offer so little going forward you know what’s going to happen, particularly with the narrative surrounding a certain Fulham striker. Mitrovic, returning after an eight game suspension, came on as a 65th minute substitute, in the 72nd he’d add a second. A cross into the box saw a mismatch with KWP marking the Serbian international, only one winner. 0-2, I wonder how far Hull, Preston and Rotherham are from Southampton?

Relegation - capital R

Gutless, pathetic, absent, all perfectly valid descriptions of the performance this afternoon and, indeed, this season. The full time whistles blows, finally the torment of potential salvation has been removed. Another former Saint, Luis Boa Morte - current Fulham coach, appears to offer his condolences to Ruben Selles as relegation is confirmed, capital R adjacent to Southampton in the league table. Alongside Boa Morte, Harrison Reed took to social media to offer his commiserations and well wishes for the next season. In contrast the Southampton squad half-heartedly partook in a lap of ‘honour.’ JWP & KWP adrift from the collective, walking closer to the fans. A goodbye of sorts perhaps.

The confirmation of relegation need not be a source of disappointment. It was hardly a shocking outcome, the proverbial writing on the wall emerging as early as November 2022. Instead the clarification allows us to look forward to pastures new, a new manager must be first of the agenda. Bringing us nicely onto the reports of the two named candidates prior to the Fulham match.

Fourth time the charm for Sport Republic

According to the Southern Daily Echo; Russel Martin & Steven Schumacher are the two in line to become Sport Republic’s fourth manager in their relatively short tenure at Southampton. Honestly, neither inspire great optimism. Current Swansea manager Russel Martin, led the Swans to a 15th placed finish in his first season & a 10th placed finish in the championship this season. Not exactly pulling up many trees. An appointment you’d expect from a club in Championship purgatory, struggling to navigate the English second tier, not a club recently descended from the top flight with ambitions to bounce straight back. 

Steven Schumacher is a curious name to pop up, having won the League One title with Plymouth Argyle this season. It connotes memories of the Nathan Jones appointment back in November. As a Premier League side we appointed a manager with Championship experience and now as a Championship side we look to a manager with League One experience. Call me unoriginal but surely there’s something to be said for making an appointment with previous experience in promotion from our new division.

These two, you presume, form part of a wider shortlist but is this calibre of manager we are shopping for? Back in November Aston Villa appointed Unai Emery, Wolves appointed Julen Lopetegui and Southampton opted for a mad Welshman who couldn’t do it on a cold Tuesday night in Stoke. Are we once again going to sell ourselves short in the managerial department?

In a club statement Saturday evening “We understand that significant improvement is required, and at the end of the season we will announce our immediate next steps and provide details of how the club will operate moving forward.” The suggestion here that it won’t be until after the Liverpool (H) game that we hear anything concrete about next seasons plan. Not unexpected, naturally time will be taken to assess the damage done. 

In 2005 relegation was confirmed on the final day of the season, this year we’re left in this weird state of limbo. Two games remain, how will these be approached? Given the lack of application shown when Premier League status was on the line, you’d be wise to anticipate more of the same performance wise. Certain players may aim to put themselves in the shop window in the coming fixtures, an infuriating notion. Alternatively, Selles could give young players a chance as the season concludes. As Selles said in his pre match press conference this weekend, he already does - an indicative response of the troubles Southampton have had this season.

We haven’t beaten a top 10 side this season, with Brighton (A) and Liverpool (H) remaining I doubt this statistic will change. Final away game of the season normally sees fancy dress aplenty, Rasmus Ankersen in a grim reaper costume anyone?