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Southampton made it into the last eight of the FA Cup after stunning Fulham with a stoppage-time penalty from Ross Stewart. The forward came off the bench in the 71st minute and was on hand to settle a tight game after Joachim Andersen fouled Finn Azaz.

Fulham were punished for another sloppy home display. Marco Silva’s side struggled to compete and had ridden their luck before Southampton, who are pushing for a spot in the Championship playoffs and an instant return to the Premier League, underlined their progress under Tonda Eckert by finally breaking the deadlock.

A midday kick-off perhaps played a part in the ground being far from full. The travelling fans were in good voice, though, and their side gave them plenty of early encouragement. Cyle Larin threatened after breaking through on the right and, although Fulham had most of the ball, Southampton did not make it easy for them to find space in the final third.

The hosts looked to impose their usual neat patterns on the underdogs. Silva was looking for a big performance from some of his squad players. He made nine changes after the careless midweek defeat to West Ham and Fulham were aggrieved not to be ahead when Rodrigo Muniz swept into an empty net after Daniel Peretz’s quick goal-kick cannoned off Ryan Manning’s back, flooring the Southampton defender, only for the goal to be ruled out because the ball was rolling when Peretz took his kick. .

That moment of high farce did not exactly rouse Fulham. Peretz had been looking to release Leo Scienza with a quick clearance and it turned out that swift counterattacks were an effective weapon for Southampton. Indeed they threatened from Fulham’s next corner, Ryan Sessegnon weak in a challenge on halfway with Scienza, who raced through on goal but dinked wide with only Benjamin Lecomte to beat.

There was a whiff of complacency to Fulham. Andersen headed at Peretz from a corner but the other chances came from long range. Samuel Chukwueze had a shot saved and Oscar Bobb, who was handed his third start since joining from Manchester City in January, had one blocked.

Southampton were comfortable sitting deep before half-time, Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Ryan Wood limiting the service to Muniz. The finishing touch eluded them, though. Scienza was tricky on the ball but erratic with his delivery. Tom Fellows, unmarked at the far post, was frustrated when the Brazilian winger failed to pick him out after another incisive break.

Fulham needed more from Emile Smith Rowe in the No 10 position. There was hope at the start of the second half, Timothy Castagne overlapping on the right and crossing for Muniz to head over. Castagne then had a goal disallowed, the flag raised when Andersen strayed offside at a free-kick.

Southampton responded. Bobb was muscled off the ball in midfield and Fellows shot straight at Lecomte after being found by Larin. Fulham were wobbling. Alex Iwobi came on for Tom Cairney and soon created a chance, exchanging passes with Bobb before Muniz shot over, but with Flynn Downes edging the midfield battle Southampton were starting to look the likelier winners.

The problem for the visitors was a lack of ruthlessness. Azaz had a golden opportunity but the midfielder dithered and allowed Jorge Cuenca to deflect his shot against the bar.

It remained edgy. Peretz saved brilliantly when Sessegnon went through on goal. Extra time was on the cards when the game slipped away from Fulham. A poor clearance from Lecomte was headed back towards the area, Stewart flicked a pass through to Azaz and the attacker fell to the turf after turning past Andersen.

Gillett saw the foul from Andersen and pointed to the spot. Fulham could have no complaints and were on their way out when Stewart walloped his spot-kick past Lecomte.