Southampton U23s lost a seven-goal thriller to Fulham in a Premier League 2 Division 1 encounter staged at Staplewood Training Ground (Southampton, Hampshire) on Monday night.

Ex-Arsenal schoolboy Nathan Tella started for the Saints and he was joined on the pitch by Jonathan Afolabi in the 20th minute, while Elijah Adebayo put in a full shift for the Cottagers.

Adebayo scored in the 14th minute to double Fulham's advantage and grabbed his brace on the hour mark after Tella had reduced the arrears for the home team on 24 minutes.

But it was level at the interval, Marcus Barnes scored two goals in the space of three minutes after he was teed up by Jonathan Afolabi and Nathan Tella respectively.

Mikolaj Kwietniewski broke Southampton's hearts with the game-winner in the 82nd minute after chipping the goalkeeper.

Fulham host Newcastle United in their next fixture on Friday while Southampton travel to Middlesbrough two days later.

Igho Kingsley

Photo Credit : southamptonfc.com