Credit: Imago

Harri Burton

Mon 9 March 2026 8:30, UK

Follow us on Google Discover

Marco Silva is edging closer to a Craven Cottage exit after Fulham were knocked out of the FA Cup by Southampton over the weekend.

Ross Stewart netted a 90th-minute penalty to sink the Cottagers on Sunday, 8 March, taking away all prospects of the Premier League side going on an exciting run in the competition.

Silva’s side are once again expected to finish mid-table in the Premier League, with very few hopes of a late European push and far too many points already to worry about relegation.

Many were expecting the manager to put everything into the FA Cup instead, with a Championship opponent to bypass. Instead, Silva is under growing pressure from Fulham fans.

• Read more: This is how likely Marco Silva is to join Tottenham next season.

Fulham supporters explode after FA Cup defeat

Having just lost 1-0 to West Ham in the Premier League, the Cottagers are no longer in the FA Cup, with the blame landing at the feet of the manager, and understandably so.

Silva made a total of nine changes for the game, benching Bernd Leno, Raul Jimenez, Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey and Antonee Robinson, totally shifting their dynamic on the pitch.

The manager is now being called out as “pathetic” and that he’ll be “lucky if we want to keep him” as Fulham’s struggles outside of Premier League safety continue.

• @ChampionshpTalk: “12 points clear of relegation and have never won a trophy, but make 9 changes in the FA Cup… Shambles.”
• @Here4TheFulham: “Any leverage Marco thought he had by not signing a new contract has disappeared in the space of 5 days. He’ll be lucky if we wanna keep him.”
• @rorybreslin99: “Nine Changes! Far too complacent and took Southampton lightly. This is becoming a pattern at the end of every season. Not good enough!”

Which clubs are already linked with Marco Silva this summer?

Tottenham continue to be linked with the Portuguese figure, with Igor Tudor unlikely to be in charge for the 2026-27 campaign, given that he may not even make it to the end of this season.

Oliver Glasner is set to leave Crystal Palace, so many at Selhurst Park have tipped Silva to make the switch across London, while Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has always had links to the manager.

The 48-year-old is more than talented enough to get a tune out of any Premier League team, but now seems like the right time for an amicable split between club and manager.

Fans are growing restless. The board is under pressure to make a switch. And Fulham no longer have anything to play for this season.