Injury worry for Redmond mars cup win

Southampton’s Carabao Cup victory over Fulham was marred by a worrying injury to key attacker Nathan Redmond, which manager Ralph Hasenhuttl described as a “shocking moment”.

Redmond was clearly in severe pain after appearing to fall awkwardly on his ankle in the second half at Craven Cottage and, after a lengthy delay, had to be helped off the pitch by two physiotherapists.

“I hope that the injury of Redmond is not that bad,” said Hasenhuttl. “It was a shocking moment when he was lying on the ground. The good thing is that the ankle is not swollen. The bad thing is that he has a lot of pain.”

Redmond had earlier created the only goal of the game, scored by teenage striker Michael Obafemi. The 19-year-old also had to be removed from the game through injury, although Hasenhuttl said he hopes it was nothing worse than cramp for the Republic of Ireland international. Obafemi, Southampton’s youngest Premier League goalscorer, missed months of last season with a hamstring problem.

The injury to Redmond put a black mark on an otherwise encouraging performance by Southampton, whose Premier League class eventually told.

In a first half best described as cagey, Fulham’s Bobby Reid came closest to scoring after striking the bar with a ferocious free-kick.

Southampton’s best opportunities came through Redmond, who twice shot wide. The breakthrough arrived when Redmond’s cross found Obafemi for a simple tap-in. Fulham (4-2-3-1): Rodak; Christie, Mcdonald, Le Marchand, Bryan; Johansen (Francois 80), O’riley; De La Torre (Davis 90), Onomah, Kamara (Taylor-crossdale (90); Reid. Subs Norman (g), Odoi, Opoku, S Sessegnon. Booked Le Marchand, Johansen.

Southampton (4-2-3-1): Mccarthy; Cedric, Bednarek (Yoshida 60), Danso, Hojbjerg; Romeu, Ward-prowse; Boufal, Redmond (Long 76), Djenepo; Obafemi (Ings 68). Subs Gunn (g), Stephens, Armstrong, Valery. Booked Danso, Ward-prowse.

Referee R Jones (Liverpool).