A much-changed Fulham were given a stern test by Cambridge but prevailed 1-0 thanks to a goal midway through the second half by Emile Smith Rowe as Marco Silva’s side were spared embarrassment at Craven Cottage. Cambridge had the half’s only real chance, Northern Ireland international Shayne Lavery squeezing a low shot wide at the second attempt via a deflection off Cuenca after the home side failed to deal with a ball into their box. The pantomime was spoiled when Cambridge defender Liam Bennett showed the official the proper way to do it with a brutal two-footed stamp. The second half began with an audacious attempt by Raul Jimenez to break the tedium and the deadlock with a volleyed back-heel that flew inches over the bar. Sullay Kaikai almost caught out keeper Benjamin Lecomte, Fulham’s 34-year-old summer signing recovering his position to keep out the winger’s cross-shot.