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Fulham 0-1 Southampton: Report, result, goals as ‘wonderful’ Stewart penalty seals FA Cup upset

Southampton surprised Fulham in the FA Cup

Written by Ben Miller
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Fulham 0-1 Southampton: Report, result, goals as ‘wonderful’ Stewart penalty seals FA Cup upset

Ross Stewart’s 91st-minute penalty knocked Premier League side Fulham out of the FA Cup as Championship club Southampton became the first team from outside the top flight to reach the 2025/26 quarter-finals with victory at Craven Cottage.

Former Scotland international Stewart fired in after Finn Azaz was brought down by Joachim Andersen, although Fulham felt they should have gone ahead during a bizarre first-half incident when goalkeeper Daniel Peretz’s goal kick hit teammate Ross Manning, allowing home forward Rodrigo Muniz to score.

Referee Jarred Gillett appeared to rule that the ball had been moving when Peretz took the kick, and the Cottagers, who made nine changes, had more cause for anguish when Stewart’s winner condemned them to a second home defeat in five days following their 1-0 home loss to West Ham in the league on Wednesday.

Saints are now on a 10-match unbeaten run, winning eight games along the way.

Analysis: Stewart ‘brilliant’ – but should Fulham goal have stood?

Former Fulham manager Chris Coleman felt Muniz’s disallowed goal was “hard” on Fulham, while ex-Southampton striker Peter Crouch question Peretz’s decision to take the kick so hastily.

“That’s a tough one on Fulham,” Coleman told TNT Sports. “The ball’s stopped rolling.”

Ex-Brighton & Hove Albion and Celtic player Adam Virgo was impressed by Stewart’s composure. “That is a wonderful penalty under great pressure,” said Virgo, calling the spot kick “brilliant”.

“[Goalkeeper Benjamin] Lecomte goes early but the strike is that good that he cannot keep that out. What a moment for him, what a moment for Southampton.”

Fulham team vs Southampton

Fulham’s Harry Wilson was not involved because of an ankle injury but fellow midfielder Sasa Lukic was on the bench, having been a doubt with a hamstring issue.

Winger Kevin (leg) was injured.

Fulham starting XI: Benjamin Lecomte, Timothy Castagne, Joachim Andersen, Jorge Cuenca, Ryan Sessegnon, Harrison Reed, Tom Cairney, Emile Smith Rowe, Oscar Bobb, Rodrigo Muniz, Samuel Chukwueze

Fulham substitutes: Bernd Leno, Kenny Tete, Calvin Bassey, Antonee Robinson, Sander Berge, Sasa Lukic, Joshua King, Alex Iwobi, Raul Jimenez

Fulham boss Marco Silva encourages his team

Southampton team vs Fulham

Southampton made four changes: Nathan Wood-Gordon, Flynn Downes, Caspar Jander and Tom Fellows came in for Shea Charles, Cameron Bragg, Kuryu Matsuki and the rested Jack Stephens.

Right-back Mads Roerslev was out following knee surgery. Left-back Welington and forward Jay Robinson have muscular injuries.

Southampton starting XI: Daniel Peretz, James Bree, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Nathan Wood-Gordon, Ryan Manning, Flynn Downes, Caspar Jander, Tom Fellows, Finn Azaz, Leo Scienza, Cyle Larin

Southampton substitutes: George Long, Joshua Quarshie, Elias Jelert Kristensen, Oriol Romeu Vidal, Cameron Bragg, Kuryu Matsuki, Samuel Edozie, Cameron Archer, Ross Stewart

Fulham vs Southampton stats

  • This was the fourth FA Cup tie between Fulham and Southampton, with the Cottagers progressing in the third round in 1998/99 after a replay and the Saints winning in the second round in 1914/15 and third round in 2017/18
  • None of the last four ties between the teams has produced more than two goals. Both of the previous two took place at Craven Cottage, Southampton winning 1-0 in 2018 and Fulham prevailing by the same scoreline in 1999
  • Three of their last four home matches have been defeats. They had recovered from being behind after 59 minutes to beat Championship automatic promotion contenders Middlesbrough at Craven Cottage in the third round
  • Southampton ended a four-match winless run against Fulham (L3), all in the Premier League during the 2022/23 and 2024/25 seasons
  • Saints had previously beaten them in May 2021 under Ralph Hasenhuttl, a 3-1 home top-flight victory as part of a run of three wins in four matches in all competitions in the fixture
  • Since beating Manchester United in the 1976 final, Southampton had previously been eliminated in seven of their eight FA Cup ties against top-flight opponents while playing outside of the top division at the time. The exception was a 2-0 win against Blackpool in the third round in 2010/11
  • They have won five of their six away matches (D1) since a 4-0 defeat at Middlesbrough on January 4
  • That is their only loss in their last eight games on the road (D3)

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