Millwall 0-1 Southampton: Ryan Fraser scores in added time for Saints
- Published
- comments
Millwall and Southampton struggled to break the deadlock at The Den
Substitute Ryan Fraser scored in added time to give Southampton victory at Millwall and make it five wins out of seven for Saints.
The Newcastle loanee popped up at the near post to grab the three points in an otherwise forgettable game at The Den.
Goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski looked to have earned managerless Millwall a vital point with a brilliant save to deny Kamaldeen Sulemana.
The Lions have been under the caretaker charge of Adam Barrett since Gary Rowett left the club over a fortnight ago and have now gone five games without a win.
Former Southampton boss Nathan Jones has been strongly linked to replace Rowett but Millwall showed plenty of spirit despite their current run of just one win in eight games.
This was the first league meeting of these teams since 2012, and Saints' high pressing game looked like posing problems for the hosts in the first half.
Stuart Armstrong fired over the bar after winning the ball inside the Millwall area and when Carlos Alcaraz also stole the ball off a defender, Bialkowski had to be sharp to turn his effort around the post.
From that corner, Will Smallbone shot from close range but Bialkowski was again in the right place to deny Saints the lead.
Just when it seemed Southampton were pressing home their dominance of the ball, Millwall went up the other end and when Jake Cooper flicked on George Saville's corner, Wes Harding headed against the bar.
Southampton stepped up the pace after the break and top scorer Adam Armstrong fired over the bar after he was set up by Smallbone's strong run.
Millwall seemed to have held out for a valuable point but Fraser, just as he did at Hull a fortnight ago, went on to snatch the three points.
Millwall interim manager Adam Barrett told BBC Radio London:
"It's devastating after the amount of work they've put in. We caused them problems and hit the bar in the first half, but if you switch off at any moment you're going to get punished.
"That's two weeks in a row - last week at Watford it should have been three points and it should have been a point today. I feel for the lads because they're working their socks off but against these top teams you get punished.
"They're the best in the division at keeping the ball so when you do get your little moments, or your set-plays, you've got to take them, but it didn't quite fall for us today.
"We've got to get to the stage where we can maintain it longer in games, we have to maintain the effort and concentration for the whole 90 minutes, or 95, whatever it is."
Southampton manager Russell Martin told BBC Radio Solent:
"I don't think he [Fraser] will want the [super sub] label but he's had a big impact off the bench. He would have been starting had he not got food poisoning so he's a bit frustrated with that, but I'm really pleased for him and proud of him because he's had a big impact for us and is a really important player for us.
"Now he needs to get back into the team, which is no easy feat.
"It was a brilliant away performance. Of course it's hard work, you're coming to Millwall away so it's never going to be easy.
"In the second half we were outstanding, so dominant, played through them, really brave, really aggressive, had so much intensity and with some big performances.
"From 60 minutes on they looked tired because of the work we put into their legs, we looked stronger and stronger and then the subs came on and had an impact again."