Southampton are gifted a point

Southampton 3 Fulham 3

Southampton 3 Fulham 3

A thrilling game warmed the hearts of the sparse crowd but Southampton's two dropped points could send them down at the end of the season. Indeed they profited by one point only through an own-goal by Liam Rosenior in the 69th minute, a volley that left his goalkeeper helpless after Anders Svensson had crossed from the right.

Indeed they profited by one point only through an own-goal by Liam Rosenior in the 69th minute, a volley that left his goalkeeper helpless after Anders Svensson had crossed from the right.

The goal rush started in the 20th minute. Mark Pembridge took a free-kick on the right and Papa Bouba Diop headed Fulham into the lead.

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The London side's advantage lasted 53 seconds, however, before Fabrice Fernandes crossed from the left and Kevin Phillips levelled for Southampton.

Phillips then scored a magnificent second in the 29th minute. Taking a pass from Peter Crouch he twisted past first Zesh Rehman and then Zat Knight before firing past Van der Sar.

Fulham were level in the 43rd minute when Antti Niemi saved Boa Morte's strike only to send the ball to Steed Malbranque, whose shot hit the top left-hand corner.

The match took another twist five minutes into the second half when a through-ball from Pembridge sent Radzinski clear on goal between Southampton's central defenders before he shot low to Niemi's left to put Fulham 3-2 up, a lead that looked solid until Rosenior's own goal.

SOUTHAMPTON:Niemi, Telfer, Lundekvam, Davenport (Jakobsson 84), Higginbotham, Anders Svensson, Delap, Redknapp, Fernandes (McCann 44), Phillips, Crouch. Subs Not Used: Smith, Cranie, Ormerod. Booked: Redknapp, Phillips. Goals: Phillips 21, 29, Rosenior 71 og.

FULHAM:Van der Sar, Rosenior (Fontaine 90), Rehman, Knight, Bocanegra, Malbranque, Diop, Pembridge, Boa Morte, Cole (McBride 90), Radzinski (John 61). Subs Not Used: Clark, Crossley. Booked: Rehman, Cole. Goals: Diop 20, Malbranque 43, Radzinski 50.

Referee:G Poll (Hertfordshire).