Saints won a game at last, but it was not a convincing performance and there are still questions being asked about the managers ability to do the job ahead.
You have to feel a little sorry for Mauricio Pellegrino at the moment in that just when he needs to get big performances out of his team he is hampered by injuries, however it also has to be said that the problems are of the managers own making due to his failure to utilise his squad properly and the starting line up perhaps suggested he hasn't learn't his lessons yet.
The back four was always going to be the problem area for this gamewith both Soares and Hoedt out, Pellegrino opted to give Jan Bednarek a rare outing, but strangely he chose to use him at right back whilst employing Jack Stephens who can actually play there in the centre of defence.
This led to a lack of balance at the back and although Bednarek had a decent game he clearly wasn't going to get forward as a full back usually would and this meant that Saints attacking options were always going to be more limited than usual along this flank.
Fulham had plenty of possession but failed to utilise it, Saints rarely looked like conceding and the two tmes they did was both of their own making, McCarthy dropping the ball after colliding with Yoshida saw the home side fire over and also late on an air kick from a Fulham attacker might have seen them grab an equaliser rather than an embarassed man in white.
Saints although disjointed had their moments and really should have wrapped up the tie long before the end, James Ward Prowse took his chance well to give Saints the lead and it should have been extended, Hojbjerg having a shot well saved and Jack Stephens somehow hitting the bar from very close range when it looked easier to score.
It was a win though and in the FA Cup you don't get any extra prizes for racking up bigger scores, it was all about getting through to the next round and a morale boosting win.
But Mauricio Pellegrino did not win over any of the travelling Saints support with his selections and substitutions, as mentioned it was rather weird to play Bednarek at full back and this did not lead to fluid football on the right side, with Saints problems this season being mostly in the centre of defence, it was strange that if Bednarek was to be given his chance he should be played out of position, this was of no help to the Polish defender, nor did it answer any questions for the manager.
Again though the substitutions did not enthuse the 6,000 Saints fans who felt that they were made too late and were wrong.
On 70 minutes it was like for like with Redmond replacing Boufal, but the fans felt that Steven Davis had run himself into the ground and was ready for a rest, not a reflection on his game or effort, but he had done his job and needed a rest, but if the fans were surprised that he was not the first man off, they were shocked with ten minutes to go when the second substitution saw Pierre Emile Hojbjerg possibly Saints man of the match removed and Lemina brought on, the Saints support made their feelings known with a big chant of "You don't know what you're doing"
This was the only time that Saints support turned on the manager and it has to be said it was for the rest of the time great backing from the red & white hordes behind the goal.
The third sub was again too little too late, giving Manolo Gabbiadini only 3 minutes was just pointless, to be blunt Pellegrino's substitutions are usually too little too late and re active rather than pro active and this is very worrying if Pellegrino is to keep his job.
But Saints got the job done so there are many plus points and hopefully it will be a confidence boost for the trip to Watford next week when hopefully we will have at least Wesley Hoedt back and perhaps a new signing.