Three big Southampton questions ahead of decisive Fulham meeting

Saints fans will be hoping things drag on at the very least until the following weekend’s trip to Brighton but in order to stand a chance of that, Ruben Selles’s side need to do something they haven’t managed in their last ten league matches: win.

Fulham enter the game on the back of a resounding 5-3 victory against Leicester City and Marco Silva should be able to call on Aleksandar Mitrovic following the conclusion of his eight-match ban. Perfect timing.

James Ward-Prowse applauds the travelling Saints fans after defeat to Nottingham Forest. (Image: PA)

So what is at stake on a big day at St Mary’s? Here are three big questions we’ll be keeping an eye on…

1. Will this finally be the end?

For months, the fate of this disastrous Saints season has seemed determined. Everyone’s favourites for the drop at least from the time that Nathan Jones was sacked, Saints have appeared on the brink for much of the campaign.

They’ve been in the relegation zone since the first week of November and have been bottom of the table since losing to Brighton on Boxing Day. There’s really no debate, Saints have been the worst team in the Premier League this season and as such they will be particpating in the Championship come August.

Still, despite the writing potentially being on the walls of Staplewood and St Mary’s for a number of weeks, there was always a lingering feeling that they could get out of it. 

The failures of those around them kept the fight going and the limited periods of quality this team has displayed - notably against some of the best teams in the league - gave credence to the idea that they had the ability to launch a fightback against relegation.

Saints' relegation to the Championship could be confirmed on Saturday. (Image: PA)

But that never really materalised. At no point this season have Saints won two Premier League matches in a row and they are now winless in their last ten. When required to step up at the crucial point in the season, Saints just haven’t had it in them to do so. 

On Monday night they had their final real chance to ignite some sort of survival hope but despite periods of promise, they fell 4-3 to Nottingham Forest. In some ways it encapsulated the campaign: competitive in nature and nothing to show from that.

Saints’ fate - months on the way and years in the making - could and likely will be confirmed on Saturday. A failure to beat Fulham would officially send Saints to the Championship for the first time since 2012. The start of a new era.

2. Will there be a reward for some young stars?

While it’s been a season of constant disaster for the Saints first team, the same can not be said for the club’s B team. On Wednesday night they capped off a hugely impressive campaign by lifting the Premier League 2 Division Two title following a friendly with Luton Town.

That title was earned after a titanic battle with Leeds United, eventually decided on the final day of the season when Saints’ challengers were beaten by West Brom.

For much of the B team squad, it’s their second title in two seasons after winning the National League South last season as a cohort of under-18s. While the most difficult step by far is making the next leap, from youth football to the top level, it’s impossible to know if members of this talented group can make the jump without being given a chance.

Dom Ballard - star striker of the B team success - scored on his professional debut at Cambridge United in the Autumn and an argument could be made that he has outgrown youth football at this stage of his fledgling career.

Champions 🏆#SaintsFC pic.twitter.com/yLy7cSYB9F

— Alfie House (@AlfieHouseEcho) May 10, 2023

Regardless, Saints need to prove that there’s a pathway present that rewards young players based on merit rather than name value or transfer fee. There are plenty of players in the Saints first team squad who have kept their place this season despite catastrophic form. 

At times, it really hasn’t felt like the squad has been chosen on merit and with opportunities nonexistent for academy players this season - barring that one league cup tie with Cambridge - it would be understandable for some of the brighter talents from the youth system to start losing faith in the club’s pathway.

Now, Saints have a real opportunity to reward their budding talents and at the same time send a message to the first team players that their places are not guaranteed. Plus, it would give fans a lift to see the likes of Ballard, Kami Doyle, Lewis Payne and others involved in the first team squad.

In a lost season full of disconnection between players and fans, academy progress would be a silver lining to the failure that would be relegation before the final day. The chance has been earned, let’s hope it’s actually given.

3. What will the St Mary’s atmosphere be like?

A very strange scene unfolded on Monday night at the City Ground following Saints’ defeat to Nottingham Forest.

As Steve Cooper’s side walked around the pitch hugging and celebrating, the Saints players converged in front of the away section in an awkward puddle of cross-armed stances and intermittent applause.

For around five to ten minutes they stood in front of the supporters they have failed this season as a chorus of applause - mixed with understandable anger - came back at them.

While Monday’s defeat was no doubt painful there was an element of pride at what was finally a battling performance, the kind that has been missing in so many of Saints’ clashes against those in the relegation battle this season.

It's been a long and unsuccessful season for Saints at home. (Image: Stuart Martin)

By Saturday afternoon, much of that pride might have worn off as the reality of relegation firmly sinks in. And as such, it will be extremely interesting to see what kind of atmosphere greets the Saints players at St Mary’s.

Will some decide not to show up at all? Will the crowd rally behind the players with relegation not yet confirmed? Will the anger and frustration at such a gutless season come out? Or will the ire be aimed at those above the players, those making the calls from the top?

Of course, all that could be determined or altered by the performance on the pitch and the scoreline that accompanies it. Regardless, it will be fascinating to see the emotional energy of the ground on a potentially seismic day for Southampton Football Club.