CRYSENCIO Summerville scored the only goal in a cagey game against the Cottagers to ensure West Ham move to within a point of safety, writes Vlad Andrejevic from Craven Cottage.
There was a touch of fortune for the goal as Fulham were primarily to blame, but neither Nuno Espirito Santo, the players, nor the jubilant away supporters seemed to care in the slightest how the win came about at full-time. The victory, coupled with Nottingham Forest’s draw against Manchester City, saw the Hammers go level on points with the Tricky Trees but still sit below them on goal difference.
Once again, the plaudits will rightfully go to Summerville, who is almost single-handedly leading the Irons’ survival bid. Having not managed to find the back of the net before the start of the year, the 24-year-old has now scored five in his last eight Premier League appearances and is proving to be an increasingly crucial cog in the steadily improving side.
Michail Antonio and West Ham prove too much for Brighton
Fulham, on the other hand, will be bitterly disappointed that they could not build on their impressive victory against Tottenham Hotspur three days prior and make it three wins on the trot as they chase European football.
Marco Silva made four changes from Sunday’s game, one of which was enforced as star man Harry Wilson picked up an injury, but it did not pay dividends as his team lacked cohesion.
West Ham made only two changes, bringing Jean-Clair Todibo into the side as well as giving Callum Wilson a rare opportunity to lead the line from the start. With games quickly running out for the Hammers to avoid relegation, they looked to make a quick start.
Within a minute, Valentine Castellanos had forced Bernd Leno to make a smart save after hitting a first-time effort from Jarrod Bowen’s pass. The two would combine again, this time with Bowen having his shot deflected for a corner from the Argentine’s lay off, but not before Josh King intercepted a recovery tackle and sent an instinctive shot just wide of the far post.
Following the dynamic start, both teams settled down, with very few goalscoring opportunities being created for either side as the half wore on. It was not for a lack of endeavour, but the two London clubs largely cancelled each other out and lacked that all-important final pass.
There was one more chance before the break for the visitors as Wilson, who had hardly touched the ball until then, came deep to collect the ball. He played it out wide before making a deep run into the box but could not keep his shot down when found by Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s cut back.
Much like the first half, the visitors were quick out of the blocks and would have taken the lead had Tomas Soucek guided his header from a corner anywhere but directly at Leno.
The Cottagers were then awarded a penalty, for a foul on Tom Cairney by Castellanos. However, the decision was eventually overturned following VAR footage showing that the Fulham man had rather kicked through the back of Castellanos.
Then came the all-important winner for West Ham, and it was borne from calamitous defending from Fulham. Leno had come out to intercept a hopeful long ball, and despite getting there first, neither the goalkeeper nor Calvin Bassey nearby followed up his heavy touch, allowing Bowen to nip in.
The England international played a quick ball to Summerville, who evaded a desperate tackle and curled a shot around the backtracking shot-stopper to give the Irons a vital lead to hold onto.
Fulham looked to respond, but despite making several attacking changes, were largely limited to a hopeful volley from Alex Iwobi from outside the box. Emile Smith Rowe then had the Cottagers’ best chance of the game, meeting a poor defensive clearance with a powerful shot, but the largely untested Mads Hermansen produced a very smart save.
Despite having the second-worst defensive record in the division, the visitors dug in after the Summerville strike and saw out the game in a professional manner, ensuring a vital and rare away win against a London side.
They next face an FA Cup tie against Brentford on Monday night, while Fulham will host Southampton on Sunday.