INCOMING Saints boss Ivan Juric watched on from the stands as his new side battled to a 0-0 draw at Fulham in the Premier League.

They had returning goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale to thank for several saves, with the most spectacular of them to deny Harry Wilson from close range.

 Adama Traore put wide with a late chance for the hosts, as Saints secured only a second point away from home all season to take their total to six.

It was only their second clean sheet in the Premier League and a sign of things to come. Juric's Torino drew nine Serie A games 0-0 last campaign.

Officially appointed on Saturday, former Roma and Torino boss Juric was already sitting in his seat next to the analysts when Saints started their warm-up.

The 49 year old watched his new players like a hawk ahead of his first match in the dugout against West Ham at St Mary's on Boxing Day.

Interim head coach Simon Rusk took charge of the match and maintained his defensive-first approach, although the personnel featured four changes.

Ramsdale and Kyle Walker-Peters returned to fitness, while Yukinari Sugawara and Adam Armstrong kept out James Bree and Cameron Archer.

It was not a thrilling first half at Craven Cottage, although Alex Iwobi and Armstrong had an early chance to open the scoring for each side.

Southampton's mentality shift remained clear with no reluctance to go long with the ball under pressure - Ramsdale twice finding the stands.

The goalkeeper was wearing a modified glove with just four fingers so that his broken extremity could be strapped to another inside the glove. 

Fulham had a period on top midway through the half as they returned each Saints clearance but it only amounted to Wilson shooting over twice.

Rusk opted for a change at the break and Tyler Dibling - who had entertained but ultimately lost his battle with Calvin Bassey - made way.

Wednesday's goalscorer Archer emerged and it was not long before Rusk also called on loanee Lesley Ugochukwu for his first minutes in a month.

Ramsdale produced his best save of the evening to deny Wilson, who had unleashed a thunderous strike on the half-volley at the back post.

Fulham also looked dangerous in transition while Ugochukwu made a positive impact on Rusk's charges, carrying the ball through the thirds with intent.

Fellow substitute Adama shot low and across Ramsdale's goal with a huge chance, while captain Jan Bednarek swatted away everything else.

Saints had a corner in added time of added time, which was meant to be five minutes, but Ugochukwu was unable to convert.

Rusk's side remain adrift at the bottom but would have taken a point before the game, ending their run of four consecutive defeats in all competitions.

Fulham: Leno; Castagne, Diop, Bassey, Robinson; Berge (Lukic, 75), Cairney (Godo, 75), King (Adama, 60); Wilson (Vinicius, 87), Iwobi, Muniz (Raul, 60).

Unused subs: Benda, Andersen, Cuenca, Sessegnon. 

Booked: Raul.

Saints: Ramsdale; Sugawara (Bree, 80), Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Walker-Peters; Downes, Aribo (Ugochukwu, 57), Dibling (Archer, h-t), Fernandes; Armstrong (Onuachu, 90).

Unused subs: McCarthy, Manning, Lallana, Fraser, Kamaldeen.

Booked: Downes, Ugochukwu.

Referee: Tim Robinson.

VAR: Jarred Gillet.