West Ham United away has hardly been a happy hunting ground for Fulham. Last season’s defeat at the London Stadium still rankles: given that it was secured with two hand balls that would have been more appropriate in the adjoining Copper Box during the 2012 Olympics. Those with longer memories will remember how a swift start under Claudio Ranieri evaporated after Javier Hernandez punched in an equaliser. You have to go back to Upton Park and 2004 for Fulham’s last away win and that came in the FA Cup against second-tier opposition. A glorious sunny afternoon at the Boleyn Ground in 2001, when Sylvain Legwinski and Steed Malbranque scored the goals, is the last time the Whites won a league fixture at West Ham.
Today would seem like a good time to break that 23-year barren run. David Moyes’ men were beaten late in Leverkusen on Thursday night and there may be half an eye on the herculean task of repeating last season’s European heroics against Xabi Alonso’s stylish side next week. Moyes’ risk-averse nature has not gone down well with the Hammers faithful, who will be expecting their side to be much more adventurous against the Whites than they were in Germany.
The hosts are likely not to risk Jarred Bowen, a regular scourge of Fulham, who didn’t travel to the Rhineland as he seeks to make the swiftest possible recovery from a back problem. England international Kalvin Phillips strained a hamstring on Tuesday and could also miss out. Former Fulham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola is definitely out with a groin complaint, whilst defender Dino Mavropanos will have a late fitness test having limped off against Leverkusen late on. Edson Alvarez will return to the engine room having missed the first leg of the quarter final due to a suspension, but Moyes’ approach is likely to remain the same regardless of the personnel. West Ham will be quite content to concede possession, which means the visitors will need to be much sharper in front of goal that they were eight days ago against Newcastle.
Marco Silva will have some thinking to do about his starting eleven – especially as the Whites have only picked up a solitary point from their last three games and that was courtesy of Premier League player of the month Rodrigo Muniz’s added time acrobatics at Bramall Lane. Muniz will continue up front, but the composition of the side behind him will be interesting. The endeavour of Harrison Reed could add bite to a midfield battle that will be keenly contest, whilst the pace of Adama Traore could frighten the home defence. I’ll be intrigued to see whether anything changes in the back four – especially with Issa Diop returning to his old stomping ground as Tosin Adarabioyo’s recent displays have been somewhat below par.
Fulham fashioned enough chances against Newcastle to have won three games but were punished for a late defensive lapse. The pain in Stratford has been unrelenting, but at least we can rest safe in the knowledge that the Stockley Park official will be well rested. Darren England hasn’t been called upon since the Luis Diaz offside debacle back in September – let’s hope he’s more on the ball this time round.
MY FULHAM XI (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, A. Robinson, Diop, Bassey; Palhinha, Reed; Iwobi, Willian, Pereira; Muniz. Subs: Rodak, Tete, Adarabioyo, Lukic, Cairney, Wilson, Decordova-Reid, Traore, Jimenez.
