Hammers Get Vital Win At Fulham

West Ham United may now be level on points with Nottingham Forest after Wednesday night’s 1-0 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage but unfortunately, they will have to wait to be clear of the relegation zone.

Nuno Espírito Santo made two changes from the 5-2 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield just four days ago, as both Jean-Clair Todibo and Callum Wilson came in the side in place of Konstantinos Mavropanos and Soungoutou Magassa, who dropped to the bench. Youngsters Mohamadou Kanté and Keiber Lamadrid were included in the matchday squad.

Unlike Issa Diop, who was in Marco Silva’s starting line-up, West Ham’s January recruit Adama Traoré was also amongst the substitutes against his former club.

Valentín Castellanos could have put the East Londoners in front and added to his goal against the Reds in the opening minute. Good link-up play between Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Jarrod Bowen allowed the captain to play him in but unfortunately for the Argentine, it wasn’t to be two in as many games, as home goalkeeper Bernd Leno got a hand to the effort and tipped it over.

After they survived that early scare, Fulham grew into the game and had a chance when youngster Samuel Chukweueze evaded the attentions of El Hadji Malick Diouf, as well as Chelsea loanee Axel Disasi but fortunately his effort was weak, making it easy for visiting goalkeeper Mads Hermansen to gather. The Dane also saw Josh King’s attempt go wide of the far post after Bowen’s attempted clearance was presented to him, as it landed at his feet.

The game settled into a pattern with chances at either end. West Ham went even closer to grabbing the advantage through Bowen after the ball had been played to him, following good combination play from Castellanos and Wan-Bissaka. Unfortunately though, Calvin Bassey blocked his shot.

The visitors were applying pressure, as they earnt themselves two quick corners which were delivered into the box powerfully. Bowen sent over the second delivery and controversy then reigned when Alex Iwobi was penalised for handball. A lengthy VAR check then took place and it was eventually decided that play would continue.

Fulham were pushing to open the scoring and had another opportunity but fortunately, King’s attempt took a deflection off Disasi and landed on the roof of Hermansen’s net and a corner was awarded. Iwobi took responsibility for the set-piece but thankfully for the travelling support, it was straight at the former Leicester City stopper.

Not for the first time in the contest, another promising West Ham attack found Bowen, but he was unable to beat Leno. Seconds later, Wilson should have beaten the German when he picked up possession from Wan-Bissaka and went for glory. In so doing, he wasted what was a golden chance. In between, Tomáš Souček slid in on Iwobi to deny the Nigerian a short at goal.

Silva’s men might have taken a half-time lead when they were awarded a corner and King eventually took control of possession. He then twisted and turned his way into the box before giving Hermansen a test. Thankfully, the Dane passed it with flying colours and made a great save to keep the scores level at half-time.

As they had done at the start of the game, West Ham almost went in front after referee Matt Donohue had restarted the action. Souček beat former teammate Diop as they both went up to meet Bowen’s corner and the Czech’s subsequent header was then tipped over by Leno.

Donohue hasn’t refereed many Premier League matches and his inexperience definitely showed. He was at the centre of another controversial decision here. Tom Cairney fell under the challenge of Castellanos and after the Hammers were denied the opportunity to score from the spot on this occasion, the man in charge blew the whistle. However, John Brooks, who was watching in the VAR booth at Stockley Park, advised the official to review his decision on the pitchside monitor after which, the penalty call was overturned to the relief of the large number in the away end. As it turned out, Cairney had actually kicked the foot of the Argentine before he shot towards goal.

With an hour gone, Espírito Santo’s side were still in the ascendancy and Diouf’s dangerous cross was hooked clear by Antonee Robinson. Then, Bowen went close to scoring his first goal since his team’s last visit to West London but unfortunately, Leno kept him out with a decent save. Had the opportunity found the back of the net, it wouldn’t have counted, as he was flagged offside.

A first change was made by West Ham shortly after, as Magassa entered the fray for Wilson.

West Ham’s next attack resulted in them finally going ahead. Wan-Bissaka’s long kick upfield caused Leno to come a long way out of his goal and with the German struggling to get back, Crysencio Summerville took full advantage and shot towards the empty net and in so doing, sent the ever-loyal fan base wild.

With the Irons now in front, they were determined to do everything they could to keep their advantage intact. The Cottagers had now turned the pressure up on their opponents, but Iwobi had not made the most of an opportunity when he was marked, before Hermansen then made a string of good saves to prevent Silva’s side from levelling matters.

Traoré did make an appearance on his first return to Craven Cottage, as he was brought on in the last minute of normal time for Summerville.

Six minutes of added time were initially signalled however, in the end, ten were played. In the third of the added minutes, the visitors made a double change with both Mavropanos and Kanté coming on for Disasi and Mateus Fernandes.

The extra added minutes mattered not one bit as the East Londoners started March in the same way as they did in February by claiming another crucial success. That being said, it only took them level with Vitor Pereira’s team, as they managed to get an unlikely draw away at Manchester City.

Before Espírito Santo’s men can turn their attention to a meeting with Josep Guardiola’s men, the focus for them is progressing to the quarter-finals of the Emirates FA Cup, as they face an all-Premier League tie at home to Brentford on Monday night.