Former Saints hero Kevin Keegan made a second visit this season to the Dell and almost stunned the Premiership team with a repeat result.

BBC Radio 5 Live's Jonathan Legard reports from The Dell

Second Division Fulham beat Southampton at the Dell in the Worthington Cup earlier this season.

And until Egil Ostenstad's injury time equaliser it looked like the minnows would again grab the glory.

Even then it took a Fulham defensive blunder to give Saints their goal.

Egil Ostenstad tangles with Rufus Brevett

The ball ricocheted off two Fulham defenders into Ostenstad's path and, from six yards, he swept the ball past former Saint Maik Taylor.

Southampton, who ended the match with 10 men, had been behind from the ninth minute.

Opening pressure

Fulham took the early initiative from the opening seconds and on nine minutes a superb strike from former England youth international Steve Hayward put the minnows in front.

Keegan's £2m signing Barry Hayles passed into the penalty area where Geoff Horsfield laid the ball back to Steve Hayward.

The midfielder drove his shot along the ground, just inside the post and past the diving Paul Jones.

Hayward (7) celebrates his strike

Before the goal Fulham looked the more threatening although attacks were breaking down in the last third.

Hayward came close to a second with a chip shortly after the goal with a chip which was comfortably saved.

But as the first half progressed Fulham found themselves increasingly pushed onto the back foot.

A scramble in the Fulham goalmouth was only cleared after three Saints players missed the chance to shoot.

Crosses were pumped into the Fulham goal but, with Matthew Le Tissier injured, most lacked accuracy.

Determined defending and hard tackles also helped Fulham keep Saints at bay as the home crowd became frustrated over their team's laboured build-up play.

In the final seconds of the first half Egil Ostenstad had claims for a penalty turned away after he appeared to have been pushed in the back while jumping for a header.

Southampton started the second half as they finished the first - attacking but with little penetration.

Shots were limited to the edge of the box but rarely threatened Maik Taylor's goal.

Sending off

Southampton brought on four-time FA Cup Winner Mark Hughes to provide extra bite up front.

Kevin Keegan congratulates Egil Ostenstad

In the next five minutes Southampton had a penalty appeal turned down, Fulham keeper Taylor fumbled a free kick on the line but was given a second chance to clear and Saints defender Ken Monkou was sent off.

Rufus Brevitt received the ball in the Southampton half and as he ran harmlessly towards the middle of the pitch Monkou came in with a late challenge.

Monkou had not been booked before was shown the red card.

Southampton: Jones, Hiley, Colleter, Palmer, Monkou, Lundekvam, Dodd, Oakley, Ostenstad, Beattie, Kachloul. Subs: Hughes, Basham, Bridge, Monk, Stensgaard.

Fulham:Taylor, Finnan, Brevett, Neilson, Coleman, Symons, Hayward, Bracewell, Horsfield, Smith, Hayles. Subs: Uhlenbeek, Arendse, Collins, Trollope, Lehmann.