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By DOMINIC HOGAN Published: 02: 56 AEDT, 23 December 2024 | Updated: 03: 39 AEDT, 23 December 2024 6 View comments Ivan Juric offered very little to the casual observer at Craven Cottage as he watched his new charges earn a point for just the fourth time this term. The new Southampton boss - announced on Friday and in the stands on Saturday - remained largely pensive but for the odd remonstrative flail of the hand. He knows the size of his task; turning the second-leakiest defence in the division into one with the solidity and discipline with which he made his name in Italy. For 95 minutes in west London, though, Southampton looked to have found some of that grit that has eluded them this term. They were helped in large part by a Fulham side that struggled for creativity, particularly in the first half. Aaron Ramsdale was sporting a brand new, custom-made pair of gloves to protect his recently fractured finger, but he had scarcely a save to make before the break. The second half saw his new piece of kit endure a somewhat more rigorous examination after the introduction of Adama Traore brought with it trademark drive and intensity, and it was the Spanish wrecking-ball who came inches from a late, late winner only to see his effort crawl past the post. Despite an improved defensive showing that earned them just a sixth point of the season, the Saints will remain bottom at Christmas. But Juric will leave his perch in the stands knowing that he perhaps has more to work with than he might have initially expected. A tight first half saw Fulham struggle to break down an improved Southampton defence that seemed to carry a touch of the solidity that Ivan Juric is best known for. Alex Iwobi of Fulham goes for goal during the clash at Craven Cottage on Sunday New Southampton boss Ivan Juric, who was appointed on Saturday, watched from the stands Interim manager Simon Rusk remained in charge of Southampton for the game versus Fulham Alex Iwobi came close to an early breakthrough within just three minutes, as he almost caught the newly-recovered Ramsdale napping with a curling effort destined for the top right corner. Returning from a fractured finger, Ramsdale’s gloves had an enlarged middle and ring finger slot to protect his healing digit, but seemed to cause no discomfort as he turned Iwobi’s effort past the post. Fulham looked to hit Southampton on the counter, but struggled to do so with a real cutting edge. Errant through balls highlighted the creative loss incurred by Eile Smith Rowe’s absaence in a frustrating first half. The hosts were largely reduced to potshots, with Harry Wilson and Iwobi both send efforts wide of the mark in the latter stages of a half that saw Fulham unable to truly test Ramsdale and his gloves. There were flashes of excitement, though. Chief among those was naturally the much-vaunted Tyler Dibling, who enjoyed a good battle with Calvin Bassey, while, there was youthful exuberance for Fulham, too, with Josh King making his first Premier League start. Highly regarded at the club, the 17-year-old is described as someone who can ‘wriggle out of tight spaces’ - that much at the very least is apparent from his impressive display in midfield. Yet the second half began with much more intensity from Fulham, and the crosses that had largely been lacking in the first half flew in from both flanks. Marco Silva needed drive, and who better to turn to than Adama Traore? With a minute of his introduction Ramsdale was forced into his first real save of note in almost an hour, again coming from Iwobi. Southampton's Aaron Ramsdale made his first appearance since November 9 after injury Antonee Robinson of Fulham is fouled by Southampton's Lesley Ugochukwu Fulham's Adama Traore was left frustrated after he missed an opportunity to score Fulham: Leno, Castagne, Diop, Bassey, Robinson, Berge (Lukic 75), Cairney (Godo 76), Wilson (Vinicius 87), King (Traore 62), Iwobi, Rodrigo Muniz (Jimenez 62) Not used:  Benda, Andersen, Cuenca, Sessegnon  Booked: Jimenez  Southampton: Ramsdale, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Wood-Gordon, Sugawara (Bree 80), Aribo (Ugochukwu 57), Downes, Walker-Peters, Dibling (Archer 46), Fernandes, Armstrong (Onuachu 90) Not used: Mc Carthy, Lallana, Manning, Sulemana, Fraser  Booked: Sugawara, Downes, Ugochukwu On 67 minutes Traore then dangled a ball into the back post for a charging Wilson to latch onto, Ramsdale’s instinctive stop preserving his clean sheet after a fearsome volley on the slide. But just as Fulham looked to be improving, Southampton began to pose their own threat. Kyle Walker-Peters and Adam Armstrong were offered in-roads down the left with Traore’s less diligent tracking back. Yet the deadlock remained intact, Traore himself coming within centimetres of the winner on 86 minutes, but his effort was dragged agonisingly wide of the post. Fulham remain unbeaten in five, though the point gained against Southampton seems far smaller to those they earned in draws with Tottenham, Arsenal and Liverpool on that run. Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group