Marco Silva insisted that Fulham's top ambition was to enjoy a good run in this year's FA Cup in the hopes of ending their long wait for a major trophy. 

Fulham start their journey in the competition on Thursday, welcoming Championship side Watford to Craven Cottage for their first meeting in all competitions since April 2019. 

The Cottagers have impressed this season, sitting ninth in the Premier League table and just six points off the top four after going unbeaten in their last eight top-flight matches. 

Fulham have also enjoyed recent runs in the cup competitions, reaching the semi-finals of the EFL Cup last season and the quarter-finals of the FA Cup the year before. 

Ahead of facing Watford, they have progressed from each of their last four FA Cup ties against sides from a lower division, since a 2-1 defeat to Oldham Athletic in January 2019.

However, Fulham have failed to win any of their last six competitive games against Watford (D3 L3), conceding 14 goals in total during that time.

This will be the fourth FA Cup tie between Watford and Fulham, with each of the prior three meetings in 1932, 1983 and 2005 needing a replay to determine a winner.

Both sides have won one of the two prior meetings to come at the third round stage, and Silva is hoping his side will be on the right side of the result this time around. 

"We want to [do well]. Two seasons ago, we reached the quarter-final. Last season we reached the Carabao semi-finals too," Silva said.  

"I told the players that the top ambition is this competition. All clubs should look at this cup like it deserves. It is a good competition in this country that everybody loves.

"The final is something unbelievable and, if you can participate, it is one of the greatest moments you can have in this country.

"We want to play with a full ambition that we can beat them."