Marco Silva was happy with striking opportunities as Fulham beat Watford in the FA Cup

On By Littum

Marco Silva is enjoying the competition between Fulham’s striking options after Rodrigo Muniz and Raul Jimenez were among the goals in their 4-1 FA Cup third round win over Watford at Craven Cottage.

After Muniz scored his first since Boxing Day, Rocco Vata fired in a sensational goal from range to level the tie.

Silva turned to the bench in the form of Jimenez following a back injury to Muniz and the Mexican striker started from the spot.

Defenders Joachim Andersen and Timothy Castagne added the late extras to book the West Londoners’ place in the next round.

“We scored a good goal from Rodrigo, it was a good finish from him,” Silva said when asked about Muniz’s first finish into the bottom right corner.

“He had a little problem before the break. But it was not an easy finish and the way he did it was really good, it was a proper striker finish in that situation, Rodrigo in the box when he hits the ball like that it is difficult for the goalkeeper to stop.

“He felt something in his back and it was impossible for him to play the second half.”

Jimenez scored his third penalty in as many games after his tackle from the spot in Fulham’s 2-2 draw with Ipswich in the Premier League on Sunday.

After a hackneyed run, the forward buried his effort past Jonathan Bond from 12 yards with a placed finish into the top right corner.

“It was important,” Silva added when asked if Jimenez continued his penalty shootout.

“He kept his composure again, the goalkeeper waited until the last moment and he scored again.

“It is important to have players with that capacity, since the start of the season it has been a good match between both (Muniz and Jimenez), it is nice to have both with the capacity.”

Vata equalized for the visitors with a thumping long-range effort which found the top corner.

“It was fantastic,” said Watford manager Tom Cleverley.

“Rocco has this real ability to score goals and different types of goals in practice. The five and 10 yards from inside the box have really impressed me because he has a hunger to get into the box.

“He has these amazing strikes and the speed he needs to get away from the defence, how clean the attack was, really impressed me.”