Fulham

Holly Bacon
BBC Sport journalist

Fulham boss Marco Silva has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game at Brighton (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Silva said Adama Traore remains a doubt for this weekend: "We are going to have another session tomorrow. After that, we will take the decision. The same three that have been out for the past few weeks and months [Kenny Tete, Harry Wilson and Reiss Nelson] are still out. [Sasa] Lukic with the yellow cards is going to be out for the next two games. Adama, let's see tomorrow. He was on the pitch this afternoon doing individual work."

• The Fulham boss was also asked about his nomination for Premier League manager of the month: "What gives me more satisfaction is [that] the team reacted really well after we had a very good end of November and December. Tough games after [that] and January as a month was not the best. For me, to be there means that the team did well."

• On switching focus after the thrill of beating Manchester United in the FA Cup: "If you want to aim high in the competition, if our goal was clear to be in the next round of the FA Cup, [then] OK, we celebrated that on Sunday. We gave the fans the good feelings - the players celebrated with them. We went back to London, rested the next day and then able to work again and look forward to Brighton."

• On Fulham's next opponents: "[In attack], it doesn't matter who is going to start. They always have top quality, the right maturity at the back and a goalkeeper who has the ability to be a fifth player because of the way he plays and is always to build out the attacks. In my opinion, it is going to be a very good game, a tough game for us definitely, but we are confident we can get the result."

Recap Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Image source, Getty Images

Brighton have won none of their nine Premier League games against Fulham but have instead drawn four and lost five.

It makes Fulham the opponent they have faced the most without winning and conversely Brighton are the opponent Fulham have faced the most without losing.

However, Brighton have won each of their past three Premier League games – only once have they ever won four consecutive top-flight matches, doing so in April/May 1981.

Fulham have scored in each of their past 12 Premier League away games, netting exactly twice in each of their past six. It is their longest run of scoring multiple goals on the road in top-flight history, and have only once had a longer overall scoring streak (14 between September 1959 and April 1960).

Fulham and Brentford have expressed an interest in signing Mexico centre-back Johan Vasquez, 26, from Genoa. (GiveMeSport, external)

Meanwhile, the Whites are competing with Sporting for Panathinaikos' 23-year-old Greece right-back Georgios Vagiannidis. (Football Insider, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Drew Heatley
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

In football, we talk a lot about narrative and the drama that drives this wonderful sport.

And that is why I am convinced we can make it to Wembley this year in the FA Cup.

Anyone who watched our penalty shootout win at Old Trafford on Sunday will know it is exactly 50 years since our first and only FA Cup final appearance – our central narrative thread.

Beating Manchester United on their patch was sweet revenge for our quarter-final tie in 2023, when we were 20 minutes away from a Wembley semi-final before three minutes of madness that started with Willian handling on the line and ended with Alexander Mitrovic seeing red for laying his hands on referee Chris Kavanagh and Marco Silva banished to the sidelines in protest.

Two United goals in two minutes later and we were left to dream for another year. It is a tragedy worthy of its own chapter or two.

When Bernd Leno saved Joshua Zirkzee's penalty to see us through to the next round, it felt like a huge obstacle was removed in our quest for cup glory.

I spoke a lot last week about similarities with Crystal Palace and our ambitions. We will find out who really wants the glory more in this last-eight tie at Craven Cottage.

Then there is the Eagles' less-than-concrete claim to being the oldest club in London - another juicy storyline.

Other plot strands that leave me convinced we can make it include the fact it has been 15 years since our magnificent run to the Europa League final, during which we won the hearts of the nation, and finally that it is our captain Tom Cairney's 10-year anniversary at the club. He has been at the heart of every high and low we have experienced during the past decade.

If football truly is about stories and moments, then we could be writing one of the greatest tales of all time - well, for Fulham fans at least.

Find more from Drew Heatley at Fulhamish, external

• Not a Fulham fan? Find and follow your team here

Image source, Getty Images

Former Fulham defender Stephen Kelly has said that the side's FA Cup win over Manchester United has blown the competition "wide open".

With the game locked in a 1-1 stalemate after extra time, Bernd Leno produced two saves in the penalty shootout to send the Whites through to the quarter-finals.

Kelly told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Breakfast Club: "Going to Manchester United these days is not the same scalp as when I used to go there - and I never got one - but it is still a massive win.

"That result blows the FA Cup wide open, particularly with Newcastle now out of it as well.

"Manchester City is the big one, and Aston Villa, but then you think there is a real chance for these other clubs to get to a final and pick up some silverware."

Image source, Getty Images

Fulham fan Sammy James says the club's FA Cup penalty success against Manchester United was another "magic" moment in what has been the "most magic season to be a Fulham fan".

Speaking about the victory on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast, the host of the Fulhamish podcast said: "It was so stressful - I've got one of those watches which tracks your heart rate and I looked at it afterwards and it reached 155 [bpm] - I might need to go see the doctor.

"It was worth it, the whole game put me through the ringer in the away end. I'd fully resigned myself to the fact we've lost to Manchester United in a lot of different ways over the years and we were going to add a penalty shootout to the list.

"Sometimes we struggle to manage the occasion but overall Fulham were the better team. They are a better football team than Manchester United at the moment.

"It's just about getting over the line and the demons of throwing it away two years ago at United can't be understated. To come over that and get past it was a huge sense of achievement."

Speaking about the the possibility of Marco Silva's side going even further in the competition, James added: "There are four teams that have never won the FA Cup. I'm really happy Fulham are in that mix.

"If you'd have offered me at the beginning of the season a last-eight tie at Crystal Palace for the chance of a trip to Wembley I'd have definitely taken that.

"It's exciting the fact that the usual big-hitters aren't there. There is a team like Fulham that are probably at least going to get to a final."

We asked for your views on the FA Cup fifth-round tie between Manchester United and Fulham.

Here are some of your comments:

Will: What an incredible team performance. Neither side played overly well over the 120 minutes, but we held our nerve from the spot and through to the quarter-finals we go. The draw could have been better but it definitely could have been worse. We have the chance to do something very special.

Helen: An awful first half and then a great goal! Alan Shearer didn't have much to say! A great second half, extra time and penalties. I couldn't watch the penalties (coward!), but what a brilliant result. Bring on Crystal Palace!

Clive: At long last we have put our jinx to bed. Now let's go on to the final!

Jim: For once we were fortunate to get the better of the very lucky Manchester United. I can't say that was a good performance from Fulham, but at least we got the result.

Joshie: Four former Arsenal players have been revelations at Fulham, which is a credit to the great coaching at Craven Cottage. It shows what can be achieved with diamonds in the rough. Marco Silva's credentials are growing - I can see Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester United and Manchester City eyeing him up as a potential future head coach.

Tim: One step from Wembley. It feels like something special is brewing here... Could it be, 50 years on from our last try?

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

It is an amazing statistic that since the Fulham side that contained England World Cup hero Bobby Moore lost to West Ham at Wembley half a century ago, only one final has not contained any of the two Manchester teams, the two from Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham or Chelsea.

With only Manchester City of that group left in this year's competition, there is a chance the unexpected nature of Portsmouth's victory over Cardiff in 2008 could be repeated.

Fulham will certainly fancy their chances.

Marco Silva has put together a talented and deep squad capable of giving anyone a game on their day.

That has tended not to be against Manchester United, who had already beaten them twice in the Premier League this season and had lost just one of their past 21 previous meetings.

However, they carried the greater threat on his occasion and should have gone in front when Alex Iwobi picked out Sasa Lukic with an excellent cross that should have met with a better ending than being sent over the bar.

For a long time, it appeared Calvin Bassey's effort would prove decisive. And after Bruno Fernandes' strike drew United level, Ryan Sessegnon brought an excellent save out of Andre Onana in second-half stoppage time.

But, after Raul Jimenez, Sander Berge and Willian had kept Fulham level in the shootout, Bernd Leno twice guessed correctly as Fulham gained redemption for the self-inflicted pain of two years ago, when they were ahead and in command of a quarter-final tie against United at Old Trafford, only to implode after a controversial penalty was awarded against them, which led to three red cards, including one for Silva, and eventual defeat.

Image source, Getty Images

Fulham boss Marco Silva has been speaking to BBC Sport after his side progressed to the FA Cup quarter-finals: "In some moments, we showed very good quality and our identity was there. We sorted some things out and we did much better. We built our attacking moments really well.

"The way the team played in the second half and all of extra time makes me really proud because we came here and we were the dominant team. We were brave and we did it in our way.

"It was a big fight. I loved the composure of our own players."

On the penalty shootout: "It is really important. They did it perfectly, with great composure, all of them. They have smiles on their faces.

"The Fulham fans are really proud of their team. We are there."

On whether Fulham deserved to win in 90 minutes: "I think so, yes. I know they had chances but I think we were the best team on the pitch. Our team was on the ball, dominating the ball. We deserve to be in the next stage."

On getting Crystal Palace in the quarter-finals: "It is going to be a great battle between two good sides. They are in great form away from home. A London derby."

Image source, Getty Images

Fulham goalscorer Calvin Bassey has been speaking to BBC Sport about the win: "It's a privilege and an honour to be here. It is a blessing to come here, so I'm happy. I like to say I'm a bit of a poacher. I was trying to smell where the ball would go and I reacted first, put my head on it and it was in the back of the net.

"They are a very good team, with a lot of talent. We tried to take the sting out of the game and control possession. They had their chances and sometimes a game goes down to penalties. We had a bit of fortune with the penalties with Leno saving two.

"I am proud of every single player. We are buzzing and we take each game as it comes. That's the best way to take each game - don't get too down with the losses and don't let the wins get to your head."

On goalkeeper Bernd Leno: "He has been amazing. He has kept us in games so many times. He deserves the recognition."

Fulham fans, what did you make of the performance? Let us know here

Image source, Getty Images

Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno has been speaking to BBC Sport following the game: "Unbelievable. I think we deserved to win after 90 minutes. Of course, with penalties, it is sometimes a lottery. Luckily we won.

"The goalkeeping coach told me a couple of bits of information, but my feeling is more important. I went the wrong way three times, but credit to our penalty takers. It is not easy. A brilliant job from all of us."

On wanting to reach Wembley: "100%. Two-years ago, we lost in the quarter final [against Manchester United] and now we are in the quarter-finals again.

"We want to go to Wembley 100%."

Image source, Getty Images

Fulham have qualified for the FA Cup quarter-finals in two of the last three seasons (2022-23 and 2024-25), which is as many times as they managed between 2004-05 and 2021-22 (two times).

After only scoring once in his first 55 appearances for Fulham, Calvin Bassey has since netted in two of his last four games for the club (against Nottingham Forest and Manchester United).

The draw for the FA Cup quarter-finals has been made. Here are the four ties in the order they were drawn.

Games will be played over the final weekend of March.

• Fulham v Crystal Palace

• Preston v Aston Villa

• Bournemouth v Manchester City

• Brighton v Nottingham Forest/Ipswich

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Man Utd fans - have your say here

Fulham fans - tell us what you made of the display here

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Two matches make up Sunday's FA Cup action and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

• Newcastle United v Brighton (13:45) - BBC Radio 5 Live

• Manchester United v Fulham (16:30)

All kick-off times GMT

Follow all of the action and reaction here