Ross Stewart 'deserves to go to World Cup' as late penalty sends Southampton into FA Cup quarter-finals with win at Fulham

React to this story

Southampton manager Tonda Eckert said Ross Stewart "deserves to go to the World Cup" after his 91st-minute penalty booked his side's place in the FA Cup quarter-finals. The Scot dispatched his spot-kick into the bottom-left corner to snatch a surprise win away at Fulham. Despite making just two appearances for Scotland, Eckert believes the striker deserves a place in their squad this summer.

Watch dramatic moment Southampton score late penalty against Fulham

Video credit: TNT Sports

Southampton manager Tonda Eckert said Ross Stewart "deserves to go to the World Cup" after the striker’s stoppage-time penalty sent the Championship side into the FA Cup quarter-finals with a 1-0 win at Fulham.

It has been a difficult campaign for the 29-year-old Scot, sidelined for over two months with a hamstring injury, but he is finding form at the right time, now with three goals in his last four appearances.

Scotland will be at the World Cup for the first time since 1998, with their hugely dramatic qualifier against Denmark in November sealing their spot at the tournament.

World Cup

FIFA hits out at 'concerted, ongoing effort to undermine' Infantino amid 'false claims'

29 minutes ago

Stewart has only made two appearances for his national team, with both of those coming in 2022, but his manager believes he deserves a place in the squad.

Following the upset at Craven Cottage, Eckert told TNT Sports: "He’s an unbelievable character, Ross. He deserves to go to the World Cup in the summer; he’s doing everything at the moment for the club.

"It’s a big one coming up for him when the season’s over. Very happy to have him, and he’s on a very good run."

Eckert gives reaction as he revels in Southampton victory over Fulham

Video credit: TNT Sports

Stewart dispatched his spot-kick into the bottom-left corner in the 91st minute of the fifth-round contest, beating Benjamin Lecomte despite the goalkeeper diving the right way.

Referee Jarred Gillet awarded the penalty after a foul by Joachim Anderson on Finn Azaz inside the area.

It comes just over three years after Stewart was carried off on a stretcher at Craven Cottage after suffering an Achilles injury while playing for Sunderland.

His strike takes Saints into the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time in four years, while they have extended their unbeaten run across all competitions to 10 matches.

Speaking to TNT Sports at full-time, Stewart said it was "an amazing feeling" to put his side into the last eight.

"I love those moments," he said. "As a striker, I wanted the penalty, I practise them quite a lot, I knew when I got it what I was looking to do.

"It's a moment I've missed. I've had a really tough time with injury. It was a special moment for me; it was great to take that responsibility. Hopefully, I can do it in the next round as well."

Harwood-Bellis lauds 'goalscorer' Stewart after 'tough' time in career

Video credit: TNT Sports

It is the 50th anniversary this year of Southampton’s only FA Cup title, with the South Coast side having beaten Manchester United 1-0 in the final to lift the trophy in 1976.

Asked whether it could be a positive omen for them this season, Stewart replied: "Who knows? Maybe that FA Cup magic will be on our side, and we can go all the way.

"But it will be tough. I'm sure a lot of teams will be looking at us and thinking it's a draw they want."

Southampton are the fifth side into the quarter-final draw, which will be live on TNT Sports and discovery+ on Monday, joining Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City.

Fulham were denied an opener on Sunday in controversial circumstances in the opening period, when Rodrigo Muniz stabbed home after Daniel Peretz's goal-kick struck the back of his own defender's head and fell to the striker.

Gillett had already blown his whistle before Muniz found the back of the net, ruling that the ball was still moving when Peretz had taken the goal-kick.

Watch 'controversial' and bizarre disallowed Fulham goal - 'I've never seen anything like that!'

Video credit: TNT Sports

Fulham boss Marco Silva, who made nine changes, told TNT Sports that he "didn't get an explanation" about the decision, while he told BBC Sport that he "[didn’t] want to speak about that at the moment".

It was a disappointing afternoon for the heavily-rotated Cottagers, failing to convert one of their 24 attempts, having had 68% of the ball.

"A completely disappointing result for us, for the football club and for the fans mainly," Silva said.

"They are going to be the ones that suffer because expectations were very high, as you want and push for, and you’ve disappointed them.

"It is a moment to look for ourselves definitely, it was not good enough, it was a really bad day for us."

Stream the Premier League, Men’s and Women’s FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League and more on TNT Sports and discovery+

World Cup