REPORT: Southampton dispatch Fulham, 3-1, for back-to-back Premier League wins

Southampton recorded back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time since December after beating relegated Fulham 3-1 on Saturday at St Mary’s.

Che Adams tallied his ninth goal of the season in the first-half before Nathan Tella and Theo Walcott scored either side of Fulham’s Fabio Carvalho after the break.

It marked Tella’s first senior goal for Saints whilst Walcott scored just his third of the campaign and first since returning from a long-term injury.

Saints, whose top flight status was confirmed for another season after Fulham lost on Monday, climbed into 13th-place on 43 points ahead of Sunday’s fixtures.

Southampton last won back-to-back in the league back on Dec. 2 and Dec. 13 — triumphs over Sheffield United and Brighton.

Adams broke the deadlock and gave Southampton a deserved lead on 27 minutes when he turned in James Ward-Prowse’s free-kick on the half-volley from close range.

Tella then made it 2-0 two minutes after his introduction in the 58th minute, converting Kyle Walker-Peter’s low cross to the back post in a move that capped off a team effort.

Joe Bryan came close to pulling Fulham back into the game before Carvalho cut the deficit to one 15 minutes from full-time, with his shot clipping the underside of the crossbar and crossing the line.

Walcott ensured Saints left victorious becoming his side’s second player to make an impact off the bench as he was teed up by Tella’s backheel from the edge of the box.

Southampton (4-4-2): McCarthy; Salisu, Vestergaard, Stephens, Walker-Peters; Redmond, Armstrong (Diallo 78), Ward-Prowse, Minamino (Walcott 76); Adams, Ings (Tella 58)

Unused subs: Forster (GK), N’Lundulu, Obafemi, Ferry, Djenepo, Ramsay

Goals: Adams (27), Tella (60), Walcott (82)

Bookings: None

Fulham (3-4-2-1): Areola; Adarabioyo, Anderson, Tete; De Cordova-Reid, Aina (Bryan 62), Reed, Carvalho; Zambo Anguissa (Lookman 63), Onomah (Maja 76); Cavaleiro

Unused subs: Rodak (GK), Odoi, Ream, Hector, Mitrovic, Loftus-Cheek

Goals: Carvalho (75)

Bookings: Anderson (26)