Premier League side put out a strong starting XI but were pushed all the way by Slavisa Jokanovic's Championship club
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MAURICIO PELLEGRINO avoided an FA Cup upset as Southampton won a match for the first time since November.
James Ward-Prowse's first goal of the season was enough to sink Fulham and earn Pellegrino a breather.
Southampton thought they'd taken a 10 minute lead when Shane Long fired in after latching on to a pass from former Fulham midfielder Steven Davis.
However, the effort was ruled out for offside by referee Michael Oliver.
Both sides had chances to break the deadlock with Ryan Sessegnon and Ward-Prowse failing to hit the target.
But it was the Premier League side who first made the breakthrough with a goal in the 29th minute as Fulham's defence crumbled.
Ward-Prowse took full advantage to fire home after the Cottagers failed to clear Sofiane Boufal's ball into the box.
Fulham huffed and puffed for a way back but in truth did not offer much of a threat to Alex McCarthy's goal.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg was desperately unlucky not to add a second for the Saints when he played a neat one-two with Long only to shoot straight at David Button.
Boufal then fired over from distance as the Premier League side began to hit their stride.
But Slavisa Jokanovic's Championship side also had their moments as Oliver Norwood bottled a shot and decided to pass instead as another chance fizzled out.
Lucas Piazon also squandered a chance when he failed to connect with a ball into the box while Denis Odoi also ballooned his shot wide from just eight yards.
Jack Stephens should have made this more comfortable for the Saints but his header from Ward-Prowse's corner smacked the crossbar.
