Fulham’s woes increase with defeat at West Ham
West Ham 3 Fulham 1
Fulham’s relegation worries increased further as West Ham came from behind to beat them at the London Stadium.
Ryan Babel scored after just three minutes – his first goal for the Whites – but a controversial equaliser by Javier Hernandez was followed by Issa Diop putting West Ham ahead.
Michail Antonio sealed Fulham’s fate by adding a third for the hosts in injury time.
Babel should have put Fulham ahead in the opening minute but shot straight at keeper Łukasz Fabiański after being teed up by Hammers defender Pablo Zabaleta’s awful back-pass.
The Dutchman atoned by finishing from eight yards out after Ryan Sessegnon collected John Michael Seri’s pass and sent in a low cross from the left.
Fulham were unable to hold onto the lead and the defensive shortcomings which have blighted their season were evident again.
However, they can consider themselves extremely unfortunate that the equaliser was inexplicably allowed to stand despite Hernandez nudging the ball into the net with his hand after keeper Sergio Rico had flapped at a corner.
The home side went in front five minutes before half-time.
Again a corner proved to be Fulham’s undoing and again Rico was at fault, allowing Diop’s header through his hands at the near post after the Frenchman had beaten Tim Ream in the air.
Rico pushed Marko Arnautovic’s strike on to the bar shortly before Arnautovic’s cross was headed in by Antonio – the 61st Premier League goal conceded by Fulham this season.
Fulham: Rico, Odoi, Chambers, Ream, Nordveit, Bryan, Seri (Anguissa 45), Cairney, Sessegnon (Markovic 45), Babel, Mitrovic.
Subs not used: Fabri, Ayite, Vietto, Le Marchand, Christie.
