Fulham and Southampton played out a goalless draw in a hard-fought Premier League encounter at Craven Cottage.

Defeat would have been harsh on the hosts, who dominated for long periods despite the absence of manager Scott Parker, who was self-isolating.

Now unbeaten in four league matches, they were unfortunate not to continue their recent improvement with a win.

Both Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Ivan Cavaleiro missed good opportunities to score and a late siege on the visitors’ goal also saw Aleksandar Mitrovic go close with a left-foot shot.

The subdued Saints came closest to scoring a legitimate goal when James Ward-Prowse hit the crossbar with a first-half free-kick.

The result sees Fulham remain 18th in the table while Southampton drop to eighth.

Fulham rue missed chances

While Parker had talked of being unable to work to the “maximum” in recent days, his team made light of his enforced absence.

A high-octane start allowed them to control possession and work the ball into several promising positions.

Defenders Ola Aina and Antonee Robinson contributed with searching deliveries from either flank while Zambo Anguissa and Ruben Loftus-Cheek galvanised the Cottagers from midfield.

Had Cameroon international Zambo Anguissa been able to readjust his body to strike Ademola Lookman’s cutback from eight yards, the hosts would have taken a merited lead.

Instead, the former Marseille midfielder saw the ball trickle to safety off his standing leg.

While Southampton briefly rallied before the interval the second period followed the same pattern with the hosts pressing forward in search of their third win of the season.

Robinson’s pinpoint delivery from the left deserved better than Cavaleiro’s wayward header and there were chances for Lookman and Harrison Reed before substitute Mitrovic almost stole all three points.

More to follow.

Player of the match

Ward-ProwseJames Ward-Prowse

Fulham

1. Squad number1Player nameAreola

2. Squad number29Player nameZambo Anguissa

3. Squad number33Player nameRobinson

4. Squad number19Player nameLookman

5. Squad number16Player nameAdarabioyo

6. Squad number5Player nameAndersen

7. Squad number34Player nameAina

8. Squad number14Player nameDe Cordova-Reid

9. Squad number21Player nameReed

10. Squad number17Player nameCavaleiro

11. Squad number15Player nameLoftus-Cheek

12. Squad number9Player nameMitrovic

13. Squad number7Player nameKebano