This was perhaps our best chance of getting that vital point, but again we saw good work undone by a collapse in the final stages and another injury time goal conceded, the same old issues were still there to see.

I did not disagree with Simon Rusk's starting line up, he didn't change much and kept it simple for the players on the pitch to keep it tight and know what they were doing.

One change was of course Ross Stewart in up front in place of Tall Paul, worth a try if nothing else.

Saints weathered the early Fulham bluster and then took the lead after 14 minutes with a deft Jack Stephens header, in fairness to Jack over the years, if he has a trademark goal, this has been it and it was a perfect header.

But there were still 76 minutes left on the clock and would we have the ability to defend it.

The answer was for a while yes, we dug in, rode our luck at times and were good value in keeping the lead and could have doubled it on a couple of occasions.

But the problem was that as legs tired we dropped deeper and deeper back, by the time Fulham levelled the score on 72 minutes, they had made 3 substitutions and we had made just the one, Cameron Archer coming on in place of Ross Stewart.

That was a change up front, understandable, but having go to 70 minutes, you could see that we needed fresh legs to combat the Fulham midfield who were now taking command, we had Joe Aribo, we had Will Smallbone, both capable of holding the centre of the midfield, but they never got on.

Critically one of the subs that Fulham had made was Smith-Rowe who popped up with the equaliser, a game changer from the bench and we had no one bar perhaps Tyler Dibling.

Tyler Dibling did get on shortly after the equaliser, a fair enough change from one point, in that he offered an attacking outlet, but we needed to shore up the waves of attacks from the visitors, we needed experience and we needed some defensive midfielders.

With 5 minutes to go we brought on James Bree, a defender to join the 5 other defenders who were still on the pitch, it was clear that the bus had been parked on the edge of our penalty area, it was just a wall of defenders and we could not release the pressure.

It was gutting when Fulham hit the winner in the 2nd minute of injury time, but when you look at the replay, most of the 6 defenders on the pitch were stood marking thin air, certainly not Sessegnon who had a free header, ironically from a cross from another of their substitutes Adama Traore.

This felt like the worst defeat of the season, it was just sickening, but it highlighted the problem all season, a lack of quality and more importantly a lack of leadership on the pitch.

I understand why Adam Lallana isn't in the squad as he is assisting Simon Rusk, but he was the one player in the stadium that we truly needed, an experienced leader to hold the team together, someone who could organise and urge others on.

There were good points to be taken though, the fact that we competed for virtually the whole game again, but teams like Fulham are packed full of athletes who muscle you out and play to a formula paced on winning the ball and attacking at speed, our team can't compete with that, we looked like kids compared to the Fulham side, no one can accuse our side of a lack of effort, but they are not big enough, strong enough or to be blunt fit enough and we don't have fresh legs that can change that when needed.

The bench was full of defenders and midfielders, only Cameron Archer a recognised forward, but it was more about the players not in the squad for various reasons, how we could have used Adam Armstrong, Shea Charles and even Sam Edozie on Saturday, all out on loan.

Why is there no space for Ryan Fraser, Charlie Taylor, Armel Bella-Kotchap & Albert Gronbaek, all experienced top flight players

But it is what it is, we need to keep striving for that point and next week we travel to Leicester, a team in freefall, just 1 draw in the last 11 games, and their record before that isn't much better, they haven't even scored a goal at home in the League since 8th December , what could possibly go wrong !

All Photos Via Reuters

underweststand added 10:44 - Apr 28 Sadly another game that reminds one of ..deja vu. A half-reasonable start, some good /lucky defending and even a goal up at the break. At 70 minutes was beginning to think we were in with a chance, but their first goal struck Bednarek and altered the trajectory of the ball, leaving Ramsdale helpless. How many times have we seen that this season? KWP and Fernandes caused most problems (and got regularly crocked for their troubles), and I thought that the ref. had left his yellow card in the dressing room. The little we saw of Ross Stewart was somewhat encouraging, and Sulemana looked good, until he got into the final third. Ugochukwa puts himself about in MF, but sadly we are unlikely to see him again after the summer, especially after Shea Charles returns. Losing points in added time has worked for us just once, but losing matches by a late goals has been our big misfortune. By my count we have dropped points / lost in added time 6 times this season and lost 11 games - by a one goal margin. It's easy to blame defenders, but regardless of that we have been woefully negligent in front of goal. Worst of all it seemed that every Fulham attack involved 5 or 6 players going forward. We started the season with 4 front-line strikers (plus the often-injured Stewart), and none of them have got past 5 goals. The loan outs of AA and BBD only worsened the situation since when we have start many games with Archer, or Onuachu as the one striker option. Whatever else we do in the massive clear out that is clearly on the cards, we MUST get at two good strikers who are consistent strikers, even if it means dipping into League One. I'd even consider seeing Danny Ings return on a free transfer if it means getting an experienced head to lead the line for next season. I can't see any of the existing names producing 20 goals a season, and with the soon-to-be promoted sides clocking up 70 + goals we need much more fire power up front. OH... for another Lambert, or Pelle.

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IanRC added 11:14 - Apr 28 Think I heard Gronbeck is injured. That was a very cruel defeat. Fulham didn't look likely to score until that travesty when their player's shot was covered by Ramsdale but for that ridiculously unlucky (again) deflection. Their idiot manager should reflect on his sides luck before criticising us. Referee was far too lenient to both sides, Jiminez should have gone for repeated foul play. Hard to take but some good points, Stewart looks promising if only he can stay fit, I still think Sulemana creates most of our best chances. On the negative side I see their is a rumour that Fernandes wants away, that would be a shame. Good to see the U21 and womens' teams win at least, appaling that Sports Republic can't arrange streaming coverage for those of us who could not make the games. Just one of a long list of their shortcomings.

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Jellybaby added 12:41 - Apr 28 A galling defeat after a valiant effort by Saints in what often didn't appear to be a fair contest physically - Fulham had any number of powerful athletes, who looked stronger, faster, fitter, more skilful, you could say different league....... What a chastening season this has been.
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bryanK added 16:29 - Apr 28 Same old, same old. Men against boys most of our players are just not physically capable of going toe to toe with the likes of Fulham, so parking the bus and keeping it tight appears to be the only option available to Rusk and Lallana. What a sad indictment of our club. Many an ex player must be turning in their graves. So very sad.
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Colburn added 17:14 - Apr 28 Part of the issue is we are playing a system with wing backs and we only had one on the pitch. Manning is the best left back for me but he is a woeful wing back as he has no pace and is only comfortable with the ball at his feet for a free kick. Why didn’t Welington play? We looked more of a threat at West Ham when he came on. If 4 at the back ok, Manning. Also we all knew that Traore would roast him but KWP has the pace, so at half time he should have swapped. Going 6 at the back is what Potter did last week, went defensive and we equalised after dominating.. It only works to shore up the midfield to protect the back and we weakened it taking off Matty but it was his fault for the equaliser, lost his man ball watching. I was very encouraged by Ross Stewart, his footballing body language suggests a fit version of him can be huge for us next year. I still think Leicester is an easier challenge than Fulham. If we play like we did at West Ham, we will get something out of it. Sulemana is due a game where his end product counts for something. I saw leadership until the end but they are a young side so individual errors and bad communication will happen when knackered.

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YosemiteSaint added 00:17 - Apr 29 TBH, I never thought this match would be worth more than a point. But I HAVE had my calendar circled for 5/3, when we play Leicester away. They lose at home, and they don't score there either. Perhaps we can return the 0-9 favor from 5.5 years previous?
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HythePeer added 11:11 - Apr 29 There were 2 obvious penalties, one on Archer when he hit the post and one on Sulemana. I'm surprised there wasn't appeals 🤷🏻‍♂️
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