Not since March 1966 have Fulham completed a league double over West Ham United. Steve Earle, Graeme Leggat and Les Barrett were the scorers at Upton Park on that day as Vic Buckingham’s side pulled off a miraculous run of results to avoid relegation from the First Division, but Marco Silva’s side only need a pair of poacher’s finishes from Andreas Pereira at the London Stadium to add to David Moyes’ misery.

West Ham had hoped to bounce back from the disappointment of conceding two late goals in Leverkusen on Thursday night. Moyes’ men made a fast start and should have been in front as early as the third minute. Vladimir Coufal coasted past Antonee Robinson and Calvin Bassey and brought Bernd Leno rushing from his line. The German goalkeeper clawed the ball away from the right back, but Michail Antonio still had the whole goal aim at from ten yards with Fulham’s number one on the floor. He blazed it wildly over the bar.

The Hammers kept up the pressure with two corners causing problems for the Fulham defence. Mohammed Kudus shot wide when the visitors could only half clear before Lucas Paqueta slashed a shot into the sidenetting when he had more time to control a flick on from Dinos Mavropanos. The goal that looked likely actually arrived at the other end when Mavroanos, preocuppied with the presence of Rodrigo Muniz behind him, made a mess of dealing with Alex Iwobi’s cross and presented it to Pereira. The Brazilian gleefully accepted the gift, skating round Lukasz Fabianski and lifting his finish high into the net.

One nearly became two shortly afterwards. Willian, a livewire along the left flank this afternoon, crossed for a stretching Pereira, who failed to control his finish. The imperious Joao Palhinha, first to every loose ball in the engine room, and James Ward-Prowse both had shots on goal that didn’t overly extend either goalkeeper before Pereira drew an excellent, low save from Fabianski. The Polish veteran then spread himself superbly to thwart Willian and saved twice in quick succession to deny Muniz.

Iwobi went close for the Cottagers, but Ward-Prowse spurned a good chance to break the Hammers level right at the end of two minutes of added time when he ghosted into box but headed over the bar. The pattern of the first period continued into the second half, with Muniz improvising a backheel to test Fabianski’s anticipation, before Palhinha hit a shot from range that went wide. Paqueta headed straight at Leno from a corner and the home crowd got more restless as their side struggled to break down the Fulham defence.

It still felt like a second goal would be necessary and it duly arrived when Palhinha crunched into a challenge with Paqueta, winning possession and set his side on a swift counter attack. Pereira powered into West Ham territory, Muniz linked the play beautifully, picking out Iwobi on the wing and the Nigerian slid a sumptuous ball between Fabianski and the six-yard line giving Pereira the simplest of tasks to double both his tally for the afternoon and Fulham’s lead at the far post.

West Ham barely threatened as an attacking force for the remainder of the contest, with substitute George Earthy, who had only just come on for his Premier League debut, stretchered off after clashing heads with Edson Alvarez. Fulham could have had further goals but one flowing move saw the ball refuse to sit at Harry Wilson’s feet before Fabianski denied another substitute in Adama Traore. Fulham’s 23 year wait for a league win at West Ham is finally over – and this was no fluke.

WEST HAM UNITED (4-2-3-1): Fabianski; Coufal (Johnson 69),, Emerson, Mavropanos (Zouma 69), Aguerd; Alvarez, Ward-Prowse (Soucek 69); Paqueta, Kudus, Antonio (Earthy 62; Cornet 90+1); Ings. Subs (not used): Anang, Ogbonna, Creswell, Mubama,

BOOKED: Paqueta.

FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, A. Robinson, Adarabioyo, Bassey; Palhinha (Reed 90+8), Lukic; Iwobi (Wilson 74), Willian (Traore 90+2), Pereira (De ; Muniz (Broja 90+2). Subs (not used): Rodak, Cairney, Jimenez, Diop.

BOOKED: Pereira, De Cordova-Reid.

GOALS: Pereira (9, 72).

REFEREE: Stuart Atwell (Warwickshire).

ATTENDANCE: 62,459