Danny Ings’ dramatic last-gasp leveller denied Fulham a third consecutive league win over West Ham United for the first time since 1966 as the Whites were punished for failing to put clear water between themselves and Julen Lopetegui’s outfit at Craven Cottage this afternoon.
Fulham were fully deserving of the lead earned by a exquisite piece of play from Andreas Pereira and Emile Smith Rowe that laid a first goal of the campaign on a plate for surprise selection Raul Jimenez. The home side had begun with a brightness that had been missing at Portman Road before the international break, with Jimenez and Pereira spurning early chances from a pair of purposeful forays. Referee Tim Robinson inexplicably refused to point the penalty spot when Max Kilman brought down the rampaging Adama Traore – and, after the VAR agreed, Marco Silva found himself the recipient of another yellow card.
Fulham continued to pen West Ham back with Raul drilling a shot straight into the legs of a defender and Alex Iwobi’s deflected shot flying over Alphonse Areola’s crossbar. Traore came even closer moments later when his flying header from Iwobi’s cross before an outstanding move led to the opening goal. Pereira floated a ball beyond a static Hammers defence and Smith Rowe refused to give up on a lost cause. The England international retrieved the ball by the byline and bought half a yard with a clever turn, before playing a superb low cross into the path of Jimenez, who swept home from four yards. The Mexican’s smart finish was only part of his contribution to the goal as he delayed his run expertly before exploding into life at the near post.
West Ham were wretched in the first period, with the curious experiment of Tomas Soucek as a number ten curtailed at the interval. Lucas Paqueta and Crysencio Summerville enlivened their prospects in the final third after half time, with the visitors having failed to test Bernd Leno at all in the first 45 minutes. Pereira powered a volley wide after more expert creation from Smith Rowe, whilst at the other end Konstantinos Mavropanos headed into Leno’s arms from Emerson’s free kick.
The German international then bailed his defence out after Jarrod Bowen had wriggled away from two Fulham defenders to reach a bright ball from Mohammed Kudus with a smothering block at his near post to keep the Whites ahead. Silva’s side had chances to make the game safe with the lively Reiss Nelson almost forcing Areola into an error and then shooting straight at the goalkeeper after drifting delightfully inside before Traore failed to get over a floated Tom Cairney cross and nodded over.
Rodrigo Muniz held up the ball beautifully to create a chance for Pereira, who fired over from 25 yards, but Fulham were made to pay for their prolificacy right at the end. Vladimir Coufal’s quick throw caught Antonee Robinson ambling back into position, allowing Bowen to race into space on the right side of the box and the England forward’s low cross gave the evergreen Ings a chance to control and finish past Leno, despite the goalkeeper’s desperation.
Fulham were floored by the sucker punch but still summoned the will to push forward in the time added for West Ham’s delirious celebrations after getting out of jail. Traore’s pace took them up the pitch and, after the former Wolves winger had won a free-kick, Tom Cairney’s lovely left foot created a glorious headed chance for Calvin Bassey but the centre half nodded agonisingly wide. These were two more points dropped, even if there was plenty to admire about Fulham’s performance.
FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tete, A. Robinson, Andersen, Bassey; Lukic (Nelson 66), Pereira (Reed 86); Traore, Iwobi (Berge 66), Smith Rowe (Cairney 73); Jimenez (Muniz 73). Subs (not used): Benda, Castagne, Diop, Wilson.
BOOKED: Lukic.
GOAL: Jimenez (24).
WEST HAM UNITED (4-2-3-1): Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Emerson (Coufal 57), Mavropanos, Kilman; Álvarez (Ings 82), Rodríguez (Soler 70), Bowen, Kudus, Soucek (Lucas Paquetá 45); Antonio (Summerville 45). Subs (not used): Fabianski, Cresswell, Todibo, Irving.
BOOKED: Rodriguez, Alvarez.
GOAL: Ings (90+5).
REFEREE: Tim Robinson (West Sussex).
ATTENDANCE: 26,528.
There was zero to admire. We should be putting crap teams like West Ham away at home . We are so wasteful with the opportunities we have. Gutted.
Always looked like there was another goal coming. One goal never enough in this league. Although the general performance looked good need to take chances you make and once the new recruits settle I’m sure we’re in for a decent season. I thought Anderson was brilliant with he’s heading and general distribution.
I’ll put money on the fact that if one of our players have “minimal contact” against a Man City player when we play them a penalty is assured. About time the referees have a definitive ruling about contact in the pen box.
Same old bleeding story. So many late goals conceded to ruin everybody’s day. I am sick to death of Fulham letting in late goals and throwing away all the hard work and graft that the team have contributed. However, something has to change to stop this endless misery they put us through, week after week. Get a fu..ing grip!!
a moment asleep, they score. Ruined afternoon. Traffic abysmal, coming and going. Bad bad day.
Truth is that we should have scored the 2nd goal. First half they did not have an attemot on goal, not even one. Getting a sucker punch on the 95th minute leaves a very bad taste that will linger all week. 2 points lost
Agree with the comments does is VAR not working at the cottage not to even have a look was a total disgrace, but has someone has already said if that was the Media loving ManCity or The FA adopted team Man Utd it would have been a definite penalty I would put my house on it I will sees tonight on MOTD but as usual will have to wait till the last game Also thought Anderson looked Good does nobody else take free kicks other than Perreira?
First corner by Pereira goes out of play. Seriously???
Free kick outside the box: Pereira hits it high and wide. Moments later, another free kick from a different angle: Pereira hits it high and wide.
Surely to God, there is at least one other footballer at our club who can take set pieces???
West Ham changed up a couple of players at halftime and, suddenly, after dominating for 45 minutes, our midfield was overrun and allowing West Ham back in the game and Silva tells us, post match, that that’s “normal”.
Wrong! Normal is when the manager makes his own adjustments to counter the opposition’s change in tactics. As usual, Silva waited too long because, when he finally made the requisite substitutions, it brought the game back under our control.
Hate to harp on about it but we have a clear issue upfront. Now, shock, horror- Silva tells us that Vinicius, although injured currently, is part of our squad. What did we do to deserve that???
Why, oh why, did we sell Jay Stansfield for???
The Issue is a Striker we has fans can see it stands out like a sore thumb why can’t Silva see that there are players out of contract why not try one of them it’s got to be better than Butch and Sundance up front for us yet we sold Stansfield? Where’s the logic
Silva keeps Saying Muniz is one for thre future but what about now why not TRY Adama up Front or Wilson as he did with Dan James that time really worried where goals will come from
as far as Pereira goes. There is much debate where I sit as to his capabilities. Me, I think he is appalling and useless, lightweight work shy and sure as **** he is no premiere player.
Brazil lost ln th elast week in a world cup qualifier, how the mighty have fallen, so low they pick Pereira. I much admire Marco, but cannot see why he keeps playing him. Rant over.
Zippa I agree with you, Pereira the most over rated player, more concerned with his hair style than working for the team. the only worth while thing he did was the pass to ESR which lead to the goal. Silva play Lukic and Berge and get someone else on dead ball duties.
Tim Robinson is a crap referee and the incident involving Traore and Killman would have been a penalty for any other team.
I’m firmly in Zippa’s camp. Pereira’s corners and freekicks are useless and he’s wasteful in possession. Andersen can play a ball 60 yards more accurately than Pereira can over 10 yards. Pereira should look at the freekick taken by Harrison Reed at the end where I can’t beleive Bassey did’nt score.
Was definately a penalty. Was only a small push but when you are running at about 20 mph it is enough to put you off balance. No VAR check ????
Watching the replay you can see that Kilman’s knee comes into contact with back of Traore’s leg. I sometimes wonder if refs are reluctant to give a foul because of the double jeopardy of awarding a penalty and reducing the offending team to ten men as well.
Anywhere else on the pitch it is given as a free kick. After all, it is a tackle from behind regardless of whether it is deemed a push. As to Sky’s ref watch, I’ve never seen Mike Dean find in our favour.
I agree with most of the points raised specifically Pereira is just not the person to do the job on current form. Don’t care if it was or wasn’t a penalty, the fact is we switched off yet again and threw points away, this is the umpteenth time, will we never learn. Ineffectual substitutions, yet again, will Marco never learn. The problem lies in their heads, surely not rocket science to teach them to commit for whole game.