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After a tight opening opening half, Saints pulled away from their competitive Championship opponents after the break which saw Austin and Ward-Prowse find the net and a host of Academy youngsters earn a run out under the watchful eye of Mauricio Pellegrino.
The Southampton boss – celebrating his 46th birthday – fielded a strong side for the visit of the Slavisa Jokanovic’s Cottagers in this 80-minute friendly encounter.
A back four of Matt Targett, Jack Stephens, Florin Gardos and Sam McQueen protected Stuart Taylor in goal with Oriol Romeu partenering Pierre-Emile Højbjerg in midfield. Nathan Redmond, Ward-Prowse and Sofiane Boufal flanked Austin in attack.
Saints enjoyed the better start with the physicality of Romeu and Højbjerg putting the home side immediately on the front foot.
Indeed, a couple of Ward-Prowse corners had already caused the Fulham backline trouble before the midfielder’s superb right-wing cross found Austin unmarked in the box, only for the striker to see his shot blocked on the line by Fulham’s Denis Odoi.
At the other end, a strong spell for the visitors almost caught Saints cold, Rui Fonte curling onto the post via a nick off Stephens as a balance first period ended goalless.
An improved Saints emerged for the second half and the game’s opening goal quickly followed. A drop of the shoulder and surge down the left carried Redmond into the box and the winger’s cutback found Austin who instinctively steered high into the net.
The sharp reflexes of Taylor denied Rafa Soares after the Portuguese full-back as Fulham went in search of an immediate equaliser but Southampton remained the more likely to score again.
As the half drew on, Will Smallbone – a replacement for Romeu – caught the eye with a composed and confident showing in the middle of the field, the U18 midfielder looking at home amongst his senior counterparts.
By that time Saints were firmly in control and fully deserved to double their advantage as Ward-Prowse tucked home on the rebound after fine work from Højbjerg on 74 minutes.
The crossbar denied McQueen from adding a third while youngsters Sam Vokins, Richard Bakary and Siph Mdlalose replaced Redmond, Ward-Prowse and Boufal for the closing stages.
Minutes under the belt for first-team players and the opportunity to impress for a handful of Saints Academy graduates: a positive afternoon for boss Pellegrino at Staplewood Campus.
Southampton 2-0 Fulham (Austin 45’, Ward-Prowse 69’)
Southampton XI: Taylor; Targett, Stephens, Gardos, McQueen; Romeu (Smallbone), Højbjerg; Redmond (Bakary), Ward-Prowse (Vokins), Boufal (Mdlalose); Austin.
Fulham XI: Bettinelli, Odoi, Madl, Djalo, Soares, de la Torre (Francois), Cisse, O’Reilly, Graham, Fonte (Humphrys), Mollo.
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