Report: Late Stewart penalty powers Saints into quarter-finals

There were plenty of positives in a goalless first half at Craven Cottage, as Saints had multiple opportunities to lead at the break that were squandered.

Fulham looked the more likely side in the second half, but Tonda Eckert's side held firm and won a penalty in stoppage time which was dispatched emphatically by substitute Ross Stewart to keep the FA Cup run going.

Saints lined up in the capital with a strong side after only four changes; Nathan Wood came into defence for Jack Stephens as Taylor Harwood-Bellis took the captain's armband, whilst last week's midfield trio was swapped out for Flynn Downes, Caspar Jander, and Tom Fellows.

The Premier League hosts had fielded no fewer than nine changes, as their second-string starters took some time to get into gear in the midday action.

Once again channelling the spirit of 1976 in their bespoke yellow FA Cup kit, Saints started with confident early play as some searching crosses from Leo Scienza and Cyle Larin signalled intent.

Donning the spirit of '76 at Craven Cottage. (Photos: Matt Watson)

Fulham did show their Premier League threat in glimpses though, notably when Oscar Bobb picked off a loose crossfield ball from Jander and charged into the area with quick feet to force an early corner.

At the other end, an excellent Saints counter saw Downes stretch his legs into Fulham's half, as the midfielder slipped in Finn Azaz who aimed a pass towards Larin that was blocked out for a corner.

Spells of half chances followed, as Bobb struck a left footed shot that was straight into Daniel Peretz's clutches for the hosts' first effort on target of the contest.

Saints' hard working start was almost undone by a moment of madness though, when Peretz took a goal kick quickly, which cannoned off Ryan Manning's back and into the net, only to be ruled out by the referee's early whistle to spare the goalkeeper's blushes.

Tonda Eckert's side quickly shrugged off that error and soon created the best chance of the game with a rapid break from a corner; Azaz released the ball to Scienza, who escaped Ryan Sessegnon's pressure to race clear with the freedom of Craven Cottage before he skewed his one-on-one effort wide.

Fulham responded as Samuel Chukwueze drilled a shot from the edge of the area that was saved, before Scienza again spurned a chance as he sliced a volley wide after a James Bree cross reached the back post.

Just before the break, former Saints Academy prospect Harrison Reed tried his luck from the edge of the area with an attempt that inadvertently teed up Rodrigo Muniz whose attempt was deflected away by captain Taylor Harwood-Bellis.

Leo Scienza's gilt-edged first half chance.

Momentum changed hands in the second half as Saints were put on the back foot by their top division hosts, as Muniz went close with a header from Timothy Castagne's cross.

The Belgian full-back then came closer still himself, as Fulham had a goal ruled out when a deep Reed free kick reached Joachim Andersen who offside, as his header was saved by Peretz and bundled home on the rebound by Castagne only for the linesman to cut the celebrations early.

Just before the hour mark, a rare second half counter materialised for Saints as Larin found space to run and combine with Azaz before laying the ball wide to Fellows, whose shot lacked conviction in the area.

Fulham hit back once more as Alex Iwobi was introduced to immediate effect, as he combined well with Bobb to make space for a cross that was fired over once again by Muniz.

Sensing a chance to punish their misfiring hosts, Saints didn't lie down and found themselves overturning possession high in the Fulham half and almost broke the deadlock with 20 minutes to go - Ryan Manning threaded a ball between the lines to find Azaz on the half turn, whose shot was deflected up and palmed onto the crossbar at full stretch by Benjamin Lecomte in goal.

With extra time looming as the game entered the final five minutes, two massive moments at either end determined the the tie in dramatic fashion.

A vital Peretz save at his kept Fulham at bay, denying Sessegnon with his face to keep the scores level and raise the pulses in the away end for one final flourish.

Azaz was brought down in the box by Anderson and, as the fourth official signalled six minutes of stoppage time, substitute Stewart stepped up and powered the spot kick home to send 4,700 Saints fans wild and seal a place in the last eight of the competition.

Fulham: Lecomte, Castagne, Andersen, Cuenca, Sessegnon, Reed (Raúl 90+1'), Cairney (c) (Iwobi 65'), Smith Rowe (King 89'), Bobb, Muniz, Chukwueze.

Subs not used: Leno, Tete, Bassey, Robinson, Berge, Lukić.

Goals: N/A.

Booked: Cuenca (62'), Chukwueze (90+8').

Southampton: Peretz, Bree, Wood, Harwood-Bellis (c), Manning, Downes, Jander (Bragg 72'), Fellows (Matsuki 82'), Azaz, Scienza (Edozie 82'), Larin (Stewart 72 ').

Subs not used: Long, Quarshie, Jelert, Romeu, Archer.

Goals: Stewart (90' pen).

Booked: Downes (73'), Azaz (90+4'), Matsuki (90+6').

Attendance: 21,974.

Referee: Jarred Gillett.