After four consecutive defeats, any dreams of European competition for Fulham feel a long, way away. The consequences of a crazy minute at Manchester United continue to be felt with Aleksandar Mitrovic having started an eight-match suspension – which the Football Association still feel to be two lenient – and Marco Silva set to sit in the stands for two games. That collapse at Old Trafford still rankles as does how Fulham folded in a feeble second half at Bournemouth last weekend. The poise and purpose of the early weeks of the season, which was present in an impressive opening 45 minutes on the south coast, suddenly evaporated once the Cherries began to play some football of their own. A seething Silva insisted afterwards that things would need to improve quickly – and we’ll see if they do this afternoon.

West Ham United head to Craven Cottage also in need of an improvement after shipping five goals to Newcastle in an abject showing that left David Moyes in the last chance saloon. There has been a stark contrast between the Hammers’ excellent Europa Conference League form – they have won all ten of their continental fixtures en route to a quarter final with Gent next week – and how things have rather fallen apart domestically. United are only above the relegation zone on goal difference but the lower half of the table is so congested that a win in SW6 today could vault the visitors up to twelfth.

Silva was at pains to point out the quality that lies within the West Ham squad during his pre-match press conference yesterday. Moyes will be looking to arrest the joint worst away record in the top flight, having managed just a single Premier League win on their travels so far this term, and will be at least be cheered that Gianluca Scamacca is now his only injury absentee. It is probably a good omen that the Scot remains unbeaten in thirteen top flight matches against Fulham, since Everton were beaten 2-1 at Craven Cottage in September 2009 – and he can look back on a controversial victory at the London Stadium in the reverse fixture, even if Chris Kavanagh infuriated Fulham that day as well.

West Ham are on a strong recent run against the Whites – unbeaten in five fixtures, having won the last four – and have plenty of potential matchwinners in their line-up. Luksaz Fabianski had a horrendous evening in goal in midweek, but will still likely keep Alphonse Areola, who starred during his loan spell at Craven Cottage during Fulham’s last relegation from the Premier League, on the bench here. Moyes will be desperate for a defensive improvement after that humbling at the hands of the Magpies, but Tomas Soucek and Declan Rice remain one of the strongest holding midfield partnerships in the division – even if the pair haven’t hit the heights of last season. Jarrod Bowen was unlucky not to make the last England squad, whilst Fulham fans don’t need reminding of the pedigree of Said Benrahma or Michail Antonio.

Silva has his own defensive calamities to confront after a Fulham rearguard that has been miserly for much of the season has been opened up far too regularly in the last few fixtures. The Whites have let in at least two goals a game in their last four matches, having been cut open alarmingly in the first half by a rampant Arsenal and letting that lead slip at Dean Court last Saturday without too much of a fight. Issa Diop will be motivated to show his former employers what they let go this afternoon, but there is a case for shaking up at least one point of the back four – especially after Antonee Robinson’s lethargic attempt to stop Dominic Solanke scoring the winner last weekend.

The Whites will at least be able to welcome Willian, who served his one-match ban for his fateful handball at Old Trafford last weekend, into a side that has become a little predictable at the moment. Andreas Pereira scored a sublime goal against the Cherries but Fulham failed to make their fine football pay whilst they were on top, which has been a familiar theme in the recent reverses. The Cottagers will of course miss the mighty Mitrovic up front, but Silva was adamant his side have to work out how to survive without the services of the Serbian. Last week’s serving of Carlos Vinicius wasn’t promising – but as I wrote in the preview for that game, this correspondent still believes the Brazilian has been written off far too quickly. It would help if he could deliver a top class performance in this London derby by finding the goalscoring form that he appears to have exclusively reserved for local skirmishes.

MY FULHAM XI (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tete, A. Robinson, Diop, Ream; Palhinha, Reed; Willian, Solomon, Pereira; Vinicius. Subs: Rodak, Duffy, Adarabioyo, Cedric Soares, Cairney, Lukic, Decordova-Reid, Wilson, James.