Fulham 0-0 Southampton: Ivan Juric watches from the stands as the Saints bring run of three successive league defeats to an end

Ivan Juric may not have been in the dugout at Craven Cottage as he watched his new charges earn a point for just the fourth time this term, but the new Southampton boss has certainly made his impression felt.

In the stands for Sunday’s 0-0 draw, he remained pensive but for the odd remonstrative flail of the hand as the Saints displayed some uncharacteristic defensive solidity with which he made his name.

They were of course helped in large part by a Fulham side that struggled creatively, and were stymied by Aaron Ramsdale’s custom-made four-fingered left glove to protect his recently fractured digit.

Ramsdale’s new gear went largely untroubled in the first half before a more rigorous examination in the second half, though Adama Traore will know he let two huge points go, firing agonisingly wide with the goal at his mercy on 86 minutes.

Juric will know the size of the task on his hands, the Saints destined to spend Christmas Day rooted to the bottom of the table, but he has already offered an insight into how his Southampton will look in 2025.

‘We met him and from what came across he wants to be high pressing, a little more aggressive, hard to beat and crushing spaces, playing in the right areas,’ Ramsdale told Sky Sports.

New Southampton boss Ivan Juric, who was appointed on Saturday, watched from the stands

Interim manager Simon Rusk remained in charge of Southampton for the game versus Fulham

‘We probably kicked more today than he would like, so it’s about finding the balance between kicking when we can and letting our boys in attack enjoy themselves.’

For Fulham though it was a frustrating afternoon characterised by poor decisions and a lack of creative genius against the side that began the day with the second-leakiest defence in the league.

Marco Silva’s side are unbeaten in five now, but the point gained today seems far smaller than those earned in draws with Tottenham, Arsenal and Liverpool on that run.

‘It’s a missed opportunity for us to climb the table, definitely. I said before the match that our last four performances will have a big impact this afternoon if we win the game,’ Silva said.

‘First half our front line was never a threat, our decision-making was not (good) enough to create more chances in the game.

‘These type of games we need creativity and we felt some absences this afternoon but that is the reality, and we drew a game that we should have won.’

Alex Iwobi came close to the breakthrough three minutes in, almost beating the newly-recovered Ramsdale with a curling effort destined for the top right corner, but the goalkeeper turned Iwobi’s effort past the post.

Struggling to create from opening play, Fulham resorted to potshots in pursuit of the opener – with two each for Harry Wilson and Iwobi – but they never really looked like breaking the deadlock.

Southampton’s Aaron Ramsdale made his first appearance since November 9 after injury

Antonee Robinson of Fulham is fouled by Southampton’s Lesley Ugochukwu

Fulham’s Adama Traore was left frustrated after he missed a late opportunity to score

The second half promised more action after a faster start, before the introduction of Traore brought trademark intensity and drive, and his impact was almost instantaneous, his cross on 67 minutes in behind the defence met with an excellent volley from Wilson, but Ramsdale held firm once more.

Yet the chance of the game fell to the Spanish wrecking-ball on 86 minutes, a reward for his work. Sadly for Fulham fans, it was one he was unable to take, his close-range effort trickling just beyond the post with Ramsdale stranded, gifting Juric and Co a huge point on the road.