Burgers for Ranieri, humble pie for Hughes
Fulham 3 Southampton 2
BIG MACS all round! And it could be the first of many visits to the Golden Arches if new Fulham manager Claudio Ranieri produces yet more of his miracles.
He lifted the gloom on his first match in charge – only to cast shadows on Mark Hughes’s future at Southampton.
Saints haven’t won in nine league games and their fans sang ‘you’re going to be sacked in the morning’.
Hughes said: “It’s all a bit frustrating for all. I did not expect to be where we are at this stage of the season. People always question you when results go against you.
“I have been in this game long enough to accept that. We will get it right. A lot of stuff we did today was good.”
Ranieri – known to treat his Leicester players to pizzas as a reward – chose McDonald’s as his prize for victory after arriving at Fulham last week.
He was all praise for Aleksandar Mitrovic whose two sublime goals, plus one from Andre Schurrle, lifted Fulham off the bottom of the table.
He said: “It’s a small step but an important step. For me Mitrovic is one of the best strikers in Europe, and when I say Europe I also mean the world. He is only 24 and a fantastic player.”
Fulham came back from a goal down for their first win after seven successive defeats. Stuart Armstrong netted both Saints’ goals.