Finally- after almost 100 agonising minutes West Ham were awarded the win and the three points they thoroughly deserved tonight after a stellar away performance at Craven Cottage.
West Ham’s long ball game came to nothing in the first half as Callum Wilson partnered Taty Castellanos up front. Clearly Nuno’s tactic was to reach the duo directly – but the Hammers pairing were left chasing the ball for large parts of the half as Fulham won just about every knock down.
Nuno changed early in the second half and switched to three up front with pretty rapid effect: The Hammers took the lead mid way through the second half after some immense pressing from their hardworking skipper created the error.
Crysencio Summerville is absolutely on fire. Pouncing on Leno’s error created by Bowen’s pressing, Summerville still had much to do and his football – both in beating defenders with his little shimmy and the final finish – in scoring West Ham’s first was sublime.
VAR – The highs and lows of the video referral system were perfectly displayed tonight. “In any other game that’s a penalty” Said Chris Coleman – former Fulham player and manager, remember, in an honest assessment of the officials’ absolute howling mistake live on TNT. Not awarding West Ham a first half penalty for Iwobi’s clear hand ball was utterly perplexing.
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Fair enough for the referee to miss it but – the more times you see it , the clearer it is. Utterly terrible. Decisions like that could cost West Ham their Premier League status. And talking of terrible – the referee’s decision to award a penalty against Castellanos in the second half was, fortunately, hastily overturned by the technology. The inconsistency of decision making in so – called elite sport is just staggering.
Mads Hermansen looks to have cemented his place in the side: Five saves in total and his brilliant 87th minute low left hand save looked to have saved three points for Nuno’s side. The Hammers hoodoo from corners seems to have been fixed – for now. Solidity looks to have been restored along with a determination to jump and compete for everything.
Jean Clair Todibo, from open play as well as set pieces, did well and looked immense in his first game back after his Chelsea red card. Huge pressure would have been on him, being chosen by Nuno ahead of Mavropanos, but the defender looked on it from the first minute. Good call from Nuno.
And that ten minutes of added time – agonising. West Ham now level on points with Nottinghamm Forest who grabbed a point at Manchester City. Drama overload tonight.