sport news Southampton are sliding towards the Premier League abyss after defeat to Fulham trends now
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The only positive Nathan Jones can take into the new year is that history is on Southampton’s side.
The Saints have been bottom of the top-flight table at the start of January once before — in the 1991-92 season, when they went on to finish 16th and avoid relegation.
But then-manager Ian Branfoot had Alan Shearer and Matt Le Tissier to call upon. Jones is not so fortunate.
Nathan Jones' side look destined for the drop unless they are able to halt their run of bad form
Southampton are reliant on James Ward-Prowse, who scored at both ends in the 2-1 defeat at Fulham on Saturday. The midfielder diverted Andreas Pereira’s shot into his own net in the first half before redeeming himself with a trademark free-kick in the second.
It should have been enough to earn the Saints a first point under Jones but poor defending from a set-piece allowed Joao Palhinha to head home an 88th-minute winner for the hosts.
Southampton had wasted several chances to take the lead before going behind in the first half and failed to use the momentum of equalising to punish Fulham in the second.
