Southampton beat Fulham to escape bottom three

Soccer Football - Premier League - Southampton v Fulham - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - February 27, 2019 Southampton's Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Oriol Romeu celebrate after the match REUTERS/David Klein

Feb 27 - SOUTHAMPTON 2 FULHAM 0

Southampton moved out of the relegation zone with a crucial 2-0 home win against struggling Fulham on Wednesday, their first victory in five Premier League games.

Oriol Romeu gave Southampton the lead in the 23rd minute, beating Fulham keeper Sergio Rico with a shot through a crowd.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Southampton v Fulham - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - February 27, 2019 Southampton's Nathan Redmond in action with Fulham's Denis Odoi, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Ryan Sessegnon and Calum Chambers REUTERS/David Klein

Fulham enjoyed lots of possession but their weaknesses at both ends of the pitch were all too apparent as Southampton doubled their advantage before the break.

Aleksandar Mitrovic had just scuffed a good chance wide for Fulham when Southampton attacked down the left and Nathan Redmond's low cross was parried by Rico to James Ward-Prowse who swept in the rebound.

Despite some neat build-up play Fulham lacked any cutting edge as Southampton comfortably held out for the victory that moved them two points above Cardiff City into 17th place.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Southampton v Fulham - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - February 27, 2019 Southampton's Jannik Vestergaard in action with Fulham's Aleksandar Mitrovic Action Images via Reuters/Tony O'Brien

Second-from-bottom Fulham are now 10 points behind Southampton and looking odds-on for an instant return to the Championship.

(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Toby Davis)

Soccer Football - Premier League - Southampton v Fulham - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - February 27, 2019 Southampton's Ryan Bertrand in action with Fulham's Luciano Vietto Action Images via Reuters/Tony O'Brien

Soccer Football - Premier League - Southampton v Fulham - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - February 27, 2019 Fulham's Denis Odoi looks dejected after the match Action Images via Reuters/Tony O'Brien