Hull City 1-2 Southampton: Ryan Fraser's stoppage-time winner sends Saints into play-off spots

Ryan Fraser celebrates Southampton's late winner versus Hull CityImage source, Rex Features
Image caption,

Southampton have taken 12 points from six games on the road this season

Ryan Fraser struck a stoppage-time winner as Southampton extended their unbeaten run to four matches with victory at Hull City.

Saints hit the front in the first half when Will Smallbone tucked Kyle Walker Peters' cut-back into the far corner.

But the lead lasted just five minutes as a weak clearance fell kindly for Liam Delap to smash home the equaliser.

England Under-21 Jaden Philogene was twice denied for Hull after the break while Carlos Alcarez went close for Saints before Fraser swept home from Flynn Downes' cross in the 95th minute.

Newcastle United loanee Fraser's first goal since March 2022 earned Saints their fourth away win of the season and moved them within two points of third-placed Leeds, while ending Hull's unbeaten home record in the league this season as the Tigers dropped to 12th.

Saints have kept just one clean sheet this season and were culpable when scruffy defending handed Manchester City loanee Delap his third goal of the season swiftly after Smallbone's opener.

Hull saw more of the ball in an even first half, with Philogene causing plenty of problems and forcing a good save from Gavin Bazunu, while Delap was denied a second by Ryan Manning's goalline block.

Yet the visitors carried a threat, particularly on the break, with home goalkeeper Ryan Allsop having to tip over Smallbone's deflected effort and Walker-Peters' drive just before the break.

The Tigers started the second half strongly, with Philogene and Tyler Morton both denied after Delap's fine run and low cross, while Stuart Armstrong shot inches wide at the other end as Saints stepped things up.

Both sides carved out decent openings as the game became stretched as Bazunu denied Delap when one-on-one, while Allsop saved from Smallbone before Fraser made it three wins in four for the Saints.

Hull City boss Liam Rosenior told BBC Radio Hunberside:

"To lose the game in the final minute, they're always the hardest ones to take, but for me there are a lot of good aspects to our play and there was a lot we need to eradicate from our game.

"There were two very good footballing teams. They're two teams I see challenging at the top end of the table, but we won't unless we learn as a group.

"The two goals we gave away were really. really poor today and in the Championship if you give poor goals away, no matter how good your play is, you're there to win, and that's what cost us today."

Southampton manager Russell Martin told BBC Radio Solent:

"It's a huge win for us playing against a very good team.

"First half we were okay. It wasn't a poor performance at all. but out of possession there was not enough aggression or intensity, so we tweaked that a little bit at half-time which really helped us.

"The second half I thought we were outstanding and I thought we got better as the game went on. Really dominant, really aggressive without the ball, the players fought so hard.

"I really loved the energy in the second half. There was a big difference in the energy from first to second. It was a little bit safe and lacking that edge, but in the second half we brought that to the party, thankfully, and we won."

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