Fulham 4-1 Watford: The Cottagers look comfortably out of the Championship side as Rodrigo Muniz, Raul Jimenez, Joachim Andersen and Timothy Castagne all feature.

Half a century on from their only FA Cup final appearance and Fulham are on the move again as they slipped past Watford with minimal trouble.

Back in 1974-75, they required two replays to overcome Hull City in the third round. Here, with replays a thing of the past, the ninth-placed team in the Premier League was far too strong for the ninth-placed team in the Championship.

Both sides rested first-team players and both sides made seven changes, but the difference in class was evident throughout, with Marco Silva’s side receiving the early jeers from an impressive crowd of almost 5,000 away aimed at their former manager.

Fulham had the ball all night and, with 27 attempts on goal, could have won more comfortably when Rodrigo Muniz sent them ahead midway through the first half.

Alex Iwobi had already drawn a fingertip save from Jonathan Bond but they did not break through until the visitors made a rare foray forward and were punished on the counter-attack.

Joachim Andersen won the ball in his own penalty area to start the move, which ended with a delightful crisp finish by Muniz from 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 hobbled off gingerly holding his back and did not make it back in the second half.

Watford were back in the tie at that point, with an early contender for the third-round goal by teenager Rocco Vata.

The Glasgow-born Republic of Ireland Under-21 international of Albanian heritage from Celtic collected a pass down the left, turned quickly and raced away from Sasa Lukic to take aim on the break from 30 yards.

The effort screamed and dived and goalkeeper Steven Benda was nowhere near it. Tom Ince tried to repeat that before the break with another sweet strike from distance. This one was straight for Benda and he saved with a consolation.

Raul Jimenez replaced Muniz and fired Fulham back into the lead with his 10th goal of the season, his third penalty in five days.

It was awarded after a clumsy and unnecessary foul by Antonio Tikvic on Traore at a time when there appeared to be very little threat.

Fulham’s muscular winger was out on the edge of the penalty area, moving away from Watford’s goal.

The contact from Tikvic was minimal but Traore went over and without VAR at this stage of the FA Cup it was enough to persuade referee Matthew Donohoe to point to the spot.

Jimenez found the net and Silva’s side took control. Bond made saves from Emile Smith Rowe and Ryan Sessegnon but was beaten for a third time when Andersen smashed in the second attempt from a corner.

Fulham pressed on. Andreas Pereira, captain on the night, went close when he rattled over the bar and Timothy Castagne headed in the fourth at the near post.

With the position won, Silva Andersen, Iwobi and Smith Rowe came out, presumably with Tuesday’s trip to West Ham in mind, a replay of the 1975 FA Cup final and cue for some more Wembley nostalgia.