Match Preview
Fulham vrs West Ham United
Premier League Match Day 04 24/25 at Craven Cottage
Saturday 14th September 2024 KO: 15:00
Referee:
Tim Robinson (West Sussex)
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Fulham play host to West Ham United in an all-London Premier League battle at Craven Cottage on Saturday afternoon.
Both teams, who failed to win their final matches prior to the international break, square off for the first time since April when the Hammers were beaten 2-0 by the Cottagers at the London Stadium.
After losing their opening Premier League game of the new season to Manchester United by a 1-0 scoreline, Fulham responded by picking up four points from their next two fixtures prior to the international break.
The Cottagers celebrated their first win of 2024-25 when they beat Leicester City 2-1 on home soil, shortly before claiming a 2-0 EFL Cup success over Birmingham City, but they were forced to share the spoils in a 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town in their most recent top-flight fixture a fortnight ago.
Adama Traore cancelled out Liam Delap's early opener to ensure that Marco Silva's men came away with a point from Portman Road - a somewhat positive result for the Portuguese boss after experiencing a "difficult" second half against their newly-promoted counterparts.
Sitting 13th in the table, Fulham have only won three of their last 12 Premier League games, including results from last season, with two of those victories coming against newly-promoted teams and the other against none other than Saturday's opponents West Ham - the aforementioned 2-0 away triumph five months ago.
Indeed, the Cottagers did the double over West Ham last season, winning by an aggregate score of 7-0, and are now seeking to beat the Hammers in three consecutive league games for the first time since between October 1965 and October 1966.
Julen Lopetegui has experienced a mixed start to life in the West Ham hotseat, as his side have celebrated two victories and suffered two defeats in their opening four matches across all competitions.
A 2-1 opening-weekend defeat at home to Aston Villa in the Premier League was followed by back-to-back wins over Crystal Palace and Bournemouth, the latter of which was in the EFL Cup, but they were unable to enter the international break on a high as they were beaten 3-1 at home to reigning top-flight champions Manchester City.
Ruben Dias's 19th-minute own goal cancelled out Erling Haaland's early opener to give the Hammers fans something to cheer, but keeping Man City's deadly No.9 quiet ultimately proved challenging for the hosts, as he netted two more goals to complete his hat-trick and condemn Lopetegui to his second successive league loss at the London Stadium.
West Ham will welcome a trip away from East London as three of their last four Premier League victories have come on the road. Having already beaten Palace away from home this term, Lopetegui and co will endeavour to win their opening two away league games of a season for the first time since 2015-16 when they travel to Craven Cottage on Saturday.
The Hammers have reason to be optimistic of success this weekend as they have won 16 of their 28 Premier League meetings with Fulham - their best win rate against any team they have faced at least five times in the division (57%).
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Fulham did the double over West Ham last season without conceding a goal - including a 5-0 win at Craven Cottage.
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They could earn three consecutive league victories against the Hammers for the first time since 1966.
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West Ham have won 16 of their 28 Premier League games against Fulham (57%), their best win rate against any side they’ve faced at least five times in the division.
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Fulham have won only three of their past 12 Premier League matches (D4, L5).
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But they could win their first two Premier League home fixtures of the season for the first time since 2012-13.
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The Cottagers took 16 points from London derbies last season, with only Arsenal and Chelsea earning more.
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Fulham took seven points from their four Premier League games that followed an international break last season.
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Marco Silva has won six Premier League matches against West Ham, more than he has against any other side. However, he is winless in all three league matches as a manager against Julen Lopetegui (D2, L1).
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Raul Jimenez has scored five Premier League goals against West Ham, his joint-best return against another team.
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Antonee Robinson has had eight assists, all from open play, since the start of last season - only Kieran Trippier has fared better among full-backs during that time.n Arsenal's 4-2 league win at Chelsea in April 2022.
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West Ham's only win in their opening three league games came in a London derby away from home: they beat Crystal Palace 2-0 at Selhurst Park.
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That is their only clean sheet in the past 21 Premier League fixtures.
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The Hammers can win their opening two away matches of a Premier League campaign for just the third time, after 2007-08 and 2015-16.
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West Ham lost three of their four Premier League games that followed an international break last season, winning the other.
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West Ham have faced 52 shots in this season's Premier League - only Newcastle have faced more.
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Jarrod Bowen has scored nine Premier League away goals since the start of last season, with only Erling Haaland and Ollie Watkins scoring more.
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Source Oliver Thomas at SportsMole/BBC Sports