Fulham v Southampton: Prediction, Tips and Odds

The bubble finally burst for Russell Martin last Sunday as a 5-0 defeat at home to Tottenham marked the end of the former Swansea manager's tenure at the club.

Ivan Juric looks set to take charge of the club on a permanent basis but under-21s boss Simon Rusk led the team in their 2-1 defeat to Liverpool in the EFL Cup on Wednesday.

And Rusk will likely be in the dugout when Southampton travel to Craven Cottage to take on Fulham in the league on Sunday.

Fulham have held Arsenal and Liverpool to draws in their last two fixtures and will be determined to put three points on the board against the Premier League's basement boys.

Fulham v Southampton betting tips and predictions

Fulham to win to nil - 13/8

It has been a dismal Premier League campaign for Southampton, who have picked up just five points from their first 16 matches, and it seemed a case of when and not if Martin would be sacked.

The former Swansea head coach stuck to his guns and demanded his team play positive, possesion-based football but a reluctance to tweak his approach ultimately cost him and Saints head into this weekend's fixtures nine points off safety.

It will require a Herculean effort from them to stave off the drop and they are unlikely to benefit from any new-manager bounce with Rusk in temporary charge.

Goals have been a particular problem for Southampton, who have scored a miserly 11 goals in the league so far this season, and their finishing has been poor given their expected goals figure stands at 20.22.

They got on the scoresheet in the EFL Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday but that was against a heavily rotated Liverpool team and they were still dominated in that game.

They have drawn blanks in their last two league fixtures against Aston Villa and Tottenham and have scored just four goals on the road in the Premier League this term, so a Fulham win to nil makes an appeal at 13/8.

Antonee Robinson to assist - 9/2

Width has been a key part of Fulham's game in the Premier League this season and one player who has stepped things up a notch is Antonee Robinson.

The American left-back is not afraid to get stuck into a challenge - he picked up yellow cards against both Arsenal and Liverpool - but he has also flourished going forwards this term.

Robinson has laid on six assists in the league so far - the same as Cole Palmer, Heung-min Son and Amad Diallo heading into this weekend's games - and he is overpriced to set up a goal against Southampton.

Flynn Downes to be booked - 13/8

Despite their best efforts to play possession-based football under Martin this season, Southampton have been without the ball more than they would have liked and their midfielders could be under the cosh at Craven Cottage.

Flynn Downes, who has also been deployed as a centre-back this season, is often tasking with anchoring midfield and breaking up play but he has struggled with the pace and intensity of his opponents at times, committing 28 fouls - more than any other Saints player.

He has also been shown six yellow cards - the joint-most in the Premier League prior to this weekend's fixtures - and he is worth a bet to go into the book against Fulham.

Read more football betting tips and predictions on site.

Fulham v Southampton odds

Fulham - 21/50
Draw - 15/4
Southampton - 6/1

View the full market and more odds for Fulham v Southampton on site.

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.