Marco Silva expressed his relief after Fulham successfully avoided a potential Carabao Cup upset, securing a 2-0 victory against Championship side Bristol City. The Fulham manager acknowledged the inherent risk in these types of matches, particularly against teams from lower divisions, where motivation to cause an upset is always high.

The match saw Fulham take an early lead, with Raul Jimenez pressuring George Tanner into scoring an own goal. Jimenez then followed up with a second goal midway through the first half, putting the Cottagers in a comfortable position. Despite a late rally from City in stoppage time, Fulham maintained their clean sheet and secured their place in the next round.

Silva emphasized the importance of starting the game well, being clean and ruthless, and maintaining focus throughout the match. He noted that cup competitions are often full of surprises, with several Premier League clubs already eliminated. He also reflected on a past experience where his Watford side was knocked out of the same competition by Bristol City eight years prior, highlighting the potential for upsets.

Fulham demonstrated their intent by fielding a strong starting XI, despite Silva making nine changes from the team that drew with Manchester United in the league. Adama Traore and Jimenez, both brought into the starting lineup, played a key role in the opening goal, with Traore's cross leading to Tanner's own goal. Jimenez later added his name to the scoresheet, capitalizing on a corner to extend Fulham's lead.

Silva has stressed the importance of the cup competitions and has maintained his desire to take the cups seriously. In the past three seasons, Fulham have been one game away from Wembley in both the Carabao and FA Cup. Two seasons ago, they were beaten by Liverpool over two legs in the Carabao Cup semi-final. Silva has made it clear that he wants at least three new faces added to the squad in the coming days. He believes that having a full squad is essential for navigating cup runs and reaching the latter stages of both cup competitions.

Looking ahead, Silva is keen to build on Fulham's previous cup performances, including their semi-final appearance in the Carabao Cup in 2024. While acknowledging the need to take it "step by step", Silva wants to share the ambition of going to the final with the players and fans. He has been impressed by the professional pride shown by the players in these competitions and expects that standard to remain high, irrespective of squad rotation. Silva is not underestimating any opponent, particularly those from the Championship, recognizing their ambition to cause an upset against a Premier League side.