- Fulham hosted Watford in the FA Cup third round on Thursday night.
- The Cottagers progressed comfortably after a dominant 4-1 victory.
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Half a century after their only appearance in the FA Cup final, Fulham are on the move again, having beaten Watford with minimal problems.
In 1974-75, they needed two replays to beat Hull City in the third round. Here, with the repetitions in the past, the ninth team in the Premier League was too strong for the ninth team in the Championship.
Both teams rested the first teams and both teams made seven changes, but the difference in class was clear at all times and Marco Silva's team silenced the first taunts from an impressive crowd of almost 5,000 fans in the visiting field, directed at his former coach.
Fulham had the ball all night and with 27 attempts on goal could have won more comfortably once Rodrigo Muñiz put them ahead midway through the first half.
Alex Iwobi had already converted a save from Jonathan Bond, but they failed to break through until the visitors made a rare foray forward and were punished on the counterattack.
Fulham comfortably advanced to the fourth round of the FA Cup after beating Watford 4-1
Rodrigo Muñiz put the Cottagers ahead in the first half after an intelligent shot by the striker
But Watford standout Rocco Vata equalized soon after with a stunning goal from 30 yards.
Joachim Andersen won the ball in his own area to launch the play that ended with a deliciously precise finish from Muniz after a low cross from Adama Traore.
It was his fourth goal of the season, although the Brazilian took a knock just before half-time and gingerly limped away holding his back and was unable to return in the second half.
Watford were already back in the tie, with an early candidate for the third round goal from teenager Rocco Vata.
The Glasgow-born Republic of Ireland Under-21 international of Albanian descent from Celtic received a pass on the left, turned quickly and sprinted away from Sasa Lukic, aiming on a run from 30 yards.
The effort squeaked and sank, and goalkeeper Steven Benda came nowhere close to making it. Tom Ince tried to replicate it before the break with another sweet shot from distance. He went straight to Benda and saved him comfortably.
Raúl Jiménez replaced Muñiz and restored Fulham's lead with his tenth goal of the season, his third penalty scored in five days.
It came after a clumsy and unnecessary foul by Antonio Tikvic on Traoré at a time when there seemed to be very little threat.
The muscular Fulham winger was on the edge of the area moving away from the Watford goal.
The Cottagers regained their lead thanks to the in-form Raul Jimenez in the second half.
The Mexican striker maintained his 100 percent record from the penalty spot in his national career
Joachim Andersen (center) then put his team up 3-1 when he scored an unusual goal.
Marco Silva selected a strong team and outlined his intentions to take the FA Cup seriously
Timothy Castagne added polish to the victory by scoring a fourth goal late on.
Tikvic's contact was minimal but Traore went over and, with no VAR at this stage of the FA Cup, that was enough to persuade referee Matthew Donohoe to point to the penalty spot.
Jiménez found the net and Silva's team took control. Bond saved from Emile Smith Rowe and Ryan Sessegnon, but was beaten for the third time when Andersen saved at the second attempt from a corner.
Fulham moved on. Andreas Pereira, captain that night, went close when he hit the crossbar and Timothy Castagne headed the fourth into the near post.
With the tie won, Silva eliminated Andersen, Iwobi and Smith Rowe, probably with Tuesday's trip to West Ham in mind, a repeat of the 1975 FA Cup final and the signal for a bit more Wembley nostalgia.