Silva insists Fulham deserved win

Marco Silva insisted Fulham deserved their victory at Southampton.

Ryan Sessegnon’s stoppage-time goal dramatically maintained the Whites’ hopes of securing a European spot.

They came from behind against the Premier League’s bottom side, with Emile Smith Rowe equalising before Sessegnon headed home Adama Traore’s cross.

Smith Rowe, on as a substitute, was found by Alex Iwobi’s superb ball in from the left and his shot deflected off the unfortunate Jan Bednarek and looped past keeper Aaron Ramsdale.

Jack Stephens had given the lowly Saints the lead with a glancing header from Ryan Manning’s left-wing free-kick.

Fulham were woeful in the first half but better in the second and boss Silva said: “From the first minute until the last, the reality is that we are the only team that tries to score goals or tries to play in an offensive way.

“In the second half it was the same story again, one team trying to create chances to score, playing 90% of the time in our offensive half.

“They sat back, they just tried to delay our goal or chances that you can create and I think we did create enough to win the match.”

Fulham’s dramatic 2-1 win moved them up to eighth in the table.

Willian’s strike hit the post before Smith Rowe eventually hauled them level.

They then pushed for a winner, with Iwobi heading wide from Sessegnon’s cross before Ramdsale produced a fine save to tip away Smith Rowe’s shot.

And Raul Jimenez missed a great chance when he headed Traore’s cross straight at Ramsdale.

But from another Traore’s cross, Sessegnon made no mistake – sparking wild Fulham celebrations.