Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live text commentary of this afternoon's Premier League clash between Fulham and Southampton. Will Rene Meulensteen throw his new boys in? We'll find out soon, as the team news is just filtering through...

FULHAM XI: Stekelenburg; Riether, Hangeland, Burn, Richardson; Duff, Sidwell, Kvist, Parker, Holtby; Bent

SOUTHAMPTON XI: Boruc; Chambers, Fonte, Yoshida, Shaw; Wanyama, Schneiderlin, S. Davis, Lallana; Rodriguez, Lambert

FULHAM SUBS: Stockdale, Kasami, Kacaniklic, Rodallega, Dempsey, Tankovic, Passley

SOUTHAMPTON SUBS: K. Davis, Clyne, Ward-Prowse, Cork, Guly, Hooiveld, Gallagher

Debuts for Lewis Holtby and William Kvist for the Cottagers today, then. However, there is no place in the squad for £12.5m signing Konstantinos Mitroglou. Four changes by Meulensteen, with a new forward pairing for the hosts, as Darren Bent replaces Dimitar Berbatov, who has left on loan to Monaco, with Lewis Holtby playing just behind the former England international. Alexander Kacaniklic, Clint Dempsey and Ashkan Dejagah also miss out, and are replaced by Damien Duff, Kvist and Holtby.

The visitors, meanwhile, make two changes. Sam Gallagher, who missed a glorious opportunity against Arsenal on Tuesday, drops to the bench along with Jack Cork. Victor Wanyama returns after a lengthy spell on the sidelines and Rickie Lambert is reinstated in attack. Saints captain Adam Lallana makes his 250th appearance for the club, and who's to say he won't mark the occasion with a goal today?

Fulham lie in 19th place, one point above bottom side Cardiff City, and could really do with a win today. There's further bad news for the Cottagers this afternoon, as Sunderland have just gone 3-0 up against Newcastle United with little more the five minutes remaining. An astonishing result for the Black Cats, and the win has moved them up to 12th place!

Southampton - who are ninth - lie in limbo, somewhat. They are five points adrift of Newcastle in eighth place, and five points ahead of 10th-placed Aston Villa. News of the result at St James' Park is sure to reach the away dressing room, though, and they can close the gap on the Magpies to just two points if they win today.

Fulham have taken a massive gamble with their deadline day signings. Mitroglou cost them £12.5m, but if they can continue the form which has seen him score 16 goals in just 14 appearances so far this season, he may well be the man to keep them up. They've also added Lewis Holtby on loan, William Kvist has arrived on a temporary basis and Jonny Heitinga has joined on a free transfer from Everton. And that's not all. Adel Tarrabt left on loan to join AC Milan, Dimitar Berbatov has gone to Monaco, Aaron Hughes has dropped down a division to join QPR and Philippe Senderos has gone to Valencia. An incredibly busy day!

Southampton were relatively quiet by Fulham's standards, but they did shift their record signing, Pablo Osvaldo, to Juventus on loan. The fiery character was involved in a training ground fight with Jose Fonte, and his future on the South Coast appears to be over.

Two Premier League games have already finished today, and they are big ones in the race for survival. Sunderland thrashed their bitter rivals Newcastle United 3-0 at St James' Park, and Sam Allardyce has lifted some of the pressure on his West Ham United team with a 2-0 victory over Swansea City.

Less than five minutes until kickoff at Craven Cottage! I must say I've been mightily impressed with Southampton this season, and with Lambert and Wanyama back in their ranks, I can't see past them for a win today. Had Konstantinos Mitroglou been playing, I might have said otherwise, but I'm going to go with a 2-1 win for the Saints this afternoon.

Before we start, though, there will be a minute of applause for former Fulham director and club historian, Dennis Turner.

KICKOFF:  KICKOFF And we're off!

Southampton have dominated possession in the first 60 seconds, but a Calum Chambers handball gives the home side a chance to put their foot on the ball.

Brede Hangeland intercepts a ball on the halfway line and tries to release Darren Bent, but his pass is overhit and Artur Boruc sweeps up.

Lallana and Chambers combine well down the right flank, but a sea of Fulham defenders swamp the young full back and clear the ball. The entire Saints team of so comfortable on the ball and they're a very entertaining team to watch.

Scott Parker finds himself in unfamiliar territory on the right wing, and instead of putting his foor through the ball, he tries to chip Boruc, but the ball drifts harmlessly into the hands of the goalkeeper.

It's Darren Bent in the right wing berth now, and his teasing cross has to be turned behind by Chambers. A wicked delivery by Bent there. Up come Hangeland and co for the corner.

CHANCE! The corner is floated to the far post, and Dan Burn rises highest. His header looks to be heading towards the top corner, but drops onto the roof of the net. A good effort by the youngster.

CLOSE! Steve Sidwell almost slices an inswinging cross into his own net, but Maarten Stekelenburg parries the bobbling ball away to safety! He's been in good goalscoring form so far this season, but Sidwell almost put one into his own net then!

A patient move from Southampton sees them move the ball to Calum Chambers, and his cross is turned behind for a corner. Jose Fonte misses the ball as he peels away to the near post, but Morgan Schneiderlin follows up. However, his sliced shot flies high and wide. A poor effort by the Frenchman.

If Fulham are to find a goal, it is likley to come from their right side. Scott Parker cuts out Steve Davis's poor pass and releases Sascah Reither. His teasing cross evades everyone in the middle, but it only needed a touch!

YELLOW CARD!  Southampton's top goalscorer Jay Rodriguez enters the book for a late tackle on Sidwell who pounced on a loose ball and was running at the Saints defence. Holtby's free kick fell into the hands of Brouc, though.

Scott Parker gets his foot on the ball after a mix up in the away defence and drives towards goal, but he drags his shot from 25 yards harmlessly wide. Sidwell does the same 30 seconds later after Maya Yoshida's clearance fell at the feet of the midfielder.

It's almost as though the roles are reversed at Craven Cottage - Southampton are dominating possession as if they are the home side, and Fulham are happy to soak up the pressure before counter attacking.

A penalty shout for Fulham, as the ball pops up onto the arm of Yoshida, but the referee rightly waves the appeals away. It came up off the foot of Scott Parker from less then a foot away and there was nothing he could do.

Luke Shaw bursts forward from left back and dinks a ball through to Rodriguez. His cut back is just too far away from the 18-year-old full back and Fulham are able to counter attack. Sascha Reither's whipped cross forces a corner. A good game, this.

SAVE!  Brede Hangeland meets the corner with a thumping header, and Artur Boruc instinctively sticks out his right hand to claw the ball to safety. A great save!

YELLOW CARD!  BOOKING! Victor Wanyama enters the book for a late challenge on Scott Parker. A cynical foul by the Kenyan as Fulham looked to break, and the home side are furious that an advantage was not played.

UPDATE: Very few goals in the Premier League so far, although Norwich City do lead Cardiff City 1-0 thanks to an early goal by Robert Snodgrass, while Shane Long has put Hull City 1-0 up against Tottenham Hotspur on his home debut.

Southampton are dominating possession so far - they've had 69% of the ball after half an hour. For all their time on the ball, though, it's Fulham who have had the better chances, and both from set pieces.

SAVE!  SAVE! Just as I'm praising Fulham, they almost concede! Morgan Schneiderlin meets Steve Davis's high corner and sends it towards the top corner. Maarten Stekelenburg does well to push it away under pressure from Jay Rodriguez! From the next corner, Maya Yoshida nods well side and should have left it for Rickie Lambert, who was lurking completely unmarked behind him.

The game has been stopped as Maya Yoshida receives treatment for a head injury after a clash with Dan Burn.

SAVE!  DOUBLE SAVE! Two superb saves by Artur Boruc! Darrent Bent latches onto a neat flick by Scott Parker and sends a volley towards the bottom corner, by the goalkeeper denies him. The ball comes straight back though, and Bent is released on the right side of the penalty area, but his shot is fired straight at Boruc. The first was a superb save, but Bent will feel he should have done better with the second chance on his favoured right foot.

YELLOW CARD!  BOOKING In amongst all the madness, Morgan Scheniderlin entered the book for a very late challenge on Lewis Holtby. Fulham certainly on top!

The threat of Southampton is ever-present. They break frighteningly quickly, and Rodriguez controls the ball superbly as it comes over his shoulder and releases Rickie Lambert on the right wing. His cross then finds his strike partner, but Rodriguez can't get his foot round the ball as it drops fractionally behind him and it bobbles to the far side of the box. Great link-up play between Southamtpon's front two.

It has been an entertaining game so far, but there are no goals as things stand. Can either side find an opener just before the break?

CHANCE! Jay Rodriguez meets Calum Chambers's cross, but mistimes his jump and his header isn't powerful enough. A minute later, Adam Lallana finds the striker with a chip to the far post, but it is just to high for Rodriguez to connect with the volley.

Two minutes of added time to be played.

A decent half at Craven Cottage. Yes, there are no goals, but Fulham have come close to breaking the deadlock on a number of occasions. Dan Burn headed over the bar, while Brede Hangeland was denied by a good save. Darrent Bent has had the best chances of the half, though, and came within 30 seconds of one another, but Artur Boruc denied him on both occasions. Southampton's best chances have fallen to Morgan Schneiderlin and Jay Rodriguez, but it remains goalless.

We are the only Premier League game without a goal so far! Norwich lead Cardiff 1-0, Leandro Bacuna has given Aston Villa a shock 1-0 lead at Everton and Hull are leading Spurs 1-0. The biggest surprise so far this afternoon is at the Britannia Stadium, however, as Stoke City lead Manchester 1-0 at the break thanks to Charlie Adam's deflected strike!

I still stand by my prediction that the Saints will win 2-1, despite the fact it is goalless. Fulham have looked dangerous at set-pieces, but I fancy Southampton to move up another gear this half.

KICKOFF:  KICKOFF! We are back underway.

SUBSTITUTION: We've seen the visitors make a change at the break, as Jack Cork has replaced Victor Wanyama. I can only imagine that the Kenyan has picked up an injury.

A scrappy start to the second half. It seems as though both teams are using the opening couple of minutes to warm up again, as there have been a number of heavy touches!

Luke Shaw, as has been the case all afternoon, drives forward from left back and squares the ball to Jay Rodriguez, but the England international drags his 20-yard shot wide under pressure.

CLOSE! Adam Lallana crosses the ball into the box, and Morgan Schneiderlin chests the ball up with his back towards goal and attempts an overhead kick, which flies just over the bar. A great effort!

Damien Duff races away down the left wing and his cross forces a corner, but it comes to nothing.

Feisty scenes at the Cottage, with Chambers being caught late and Schneiderlin raising his foot too high for the referee's liking. A free kick on the halfway line for Fulham.

William Kvist has had a very understated game so far today. He's done a tidy, if a little unimpressive, job in the centre of the park for the hosts.

Bent is released in the inside left channel, but his second touch is too heavy and Southampton are able to partially clear, but the home side are able to force another corner.

SUBSTITUTION: Calum Chambers leaves the field to be replaced by Nathaniel Clyne.

SAVE!  SAVE! The ball pops to Adam Lallana on the edge of the box and he sends a curling shot towards the bottom corner, but Maarten Stekelnburg does well to hold onto the effort as Jay Rodriguez followed the ball in looking to pounce on anything he spilled.

UPDATE: Stoke now lead Man Utd 2-1 thanks to two Charlie Adam goals, Spurs have equalised against Hull and Cardiff have come from a goal behind to lead Norwich 2-1.

Fulham survive a close shave! Lallana dinks a ball towards Rodriguez, and his scuffed volley finds its way to Lambert at the far post, but the striker had already lost his footing and it bounces over him as he lies on the floor!

Rickie Lambert swivels on the ball 35 yards from goal and sends Adam Lallana clear, who keeps his composure to drill a low finish across the face of goal with his left foot. Southampton lead!

CHANCE! Two more chances for the away side! Rickie Lambert meets Lallana's cross at the far post, but heads back into the middle of the box rather than going for goal. Fulham make a hash of the clearance and Steve Davis arrives onto the loose ball, but Hangeland deflects it behind for a corner. The away side have got the wind in their sails now!

SUBSTITUTION: Clint Dempsey has replaced Damien Duff for Fulham.

CHANCE Southampton are rampant! Fulham sloppily give the ball away in midfield and Luke Shaw marauds forward again from left back and crosses low for Rodriguez, but he skews his effort wide from six yards.

GOAL!  GOAL! Fulham 0-2 Southampton (Rickie Lambert)

Game over. Nathaniel Clyne plays a neat one-two on the right wing and crosses low into the centre of the box. Jay Rodriguez steps over the ball, and Rickie Lambert slams the ball inside the far post from 12 yards. A fantastic goal.

SUBSTITUTION: Fulham have introduced Pajtim Kasami for Scott Parker as they chase two goals to save this game.

With Cardiff leading Norwich 2-1, this result would see Fulham drop to the bottom of the table unless they can turn this around.

Jay Rodrguez has put this game out of sight with his 12th goal of the season and he won't have scored many better than this! Rickie Lambery sent an inch-perfect 70-yard ball into the path of Rodriguez, who had scampered away into the left flank. He then stepped inside Brede Hangeland and bent a glorious finish inside the far post from 20 yards. A brilliant, brilliant goal and that is well and truly game over!

Football is a funny old game! Fulham were arguably the better side in the first half, but three goals in just over 10 minutes has seen Southampton take an unassailable lead. The quality of their attacking players has been the difference, with three clinical finishes.

The Southampton fans who have travelled to Fulham this afternoon are in good voice, and rightly so! The Saints are just taking the sting out of this game now, as they keep the ball with ease. The "ole's" are now ringing out around Craven Cottage.

Konstantinos Mitroglou had better live up the his price tag. He arrived for £12.5m yesterday, but hasn't made the Fulham squad today. The Cottagers will be rooted at the foot of the table in 10 minutes, unless Norwich come back from 2-1 down at Cardiff City.

SUBSTITUTION: Muamer Tankovic comes on for William Kvist. It's only the youngster's second Premier League appearance, and I highly doubt he is the man to score four goals in seven minutes for Fulham...

Even at this late stage in the game, Southampton are pressing high up the pitch are forcing Fulham into playing aimless long balls. Astounding energy levels by Mauricio Pochettino's men.

SUBSTITUTION: Sam Gallagher comes on for Jay Rodriguez, who wrapped up Southampton's victory with a wonderful finish.

Clint Dempsey picks up the ball and drives at the Southampton defence, but Jose Fonte makes an easy tackle to dispossess him. You really do have to worry for Fulham's Premier League safety on this second half showing. They have been entirely abject.

Clint Dempsey attempts an overhead kick after Pajtim Kasami's cross is deflected into the air, but the referee blows for a foul.

Three minutes of added time will be played here.

Just a minute left here at Craven Cottage, and Steve Davis flashes a long-range shot wide of the target.

After a pretty even first half, Southampton showed their class after the break with three goals in 11 minutes to take a victory.

It's bad news for Fulham, though. This loss, combined with Cardiff City's 2-1 victory over Norwich City, leaves the Cottagers stranded at the foot of the Premier League table.

ROUND UP: Let's take a quick look around the rest of the Premier League before I leave. As I've already said, Cardiff beat Norwich 2-1, while Everton came from behind to triumph 2-1 over Aston Villa. Spurs fought back from a goal down to force a 1-1 with Hull City.

And there is a late result filtering through from the Britannia Stadium, where Stoke City beat Manchester United 2-1!

That's all from me, but don't forget to stick around on Sports Mole for all the reaction from today's results, and if you fancy a concise version of today's game, then here is our match report. Thanks for joining me this afternoon!