Match Report
West Ham United(0) 0-1 (0) Fulham
Premiership Match Day 18 25/26 at London Stadium
Saturday 27th December 2025 KO: 15:00
Referee:
Chris Kavanagh (Lancashire)
|
Fulham striker Raúl Jiménez’s late header earned Fulham a third successive Premier League victory on Saturday afternoon.
The meeting with West Ham United at their London Stadium was a hard fought battle, one that was nervy at times, but the Whites had enough about them to get over the line.
Five minutes before the death, Harry Wilson capitalised on a defensive mistake to set up Raúl for his second goal of the week, efforts which have earned six points for his side.
Marco Silva named an unchanged XI to the one that beat Nottingham Forest at the start of the week, with Wilson declared fit after injuring his knee in that game.
After a possession-laden opening spell from Fulham, we fashioned the first opening on six minutes when a smart Raúl turn presented him with a shooting chance, but he bent off target.
Seconds later, Wilson tested the agility of Alphonse Areola from the edge of the box, and the goalkeeper showed why he’s a former Fulham Player of the Season winner with a fine fingertip save.
West Ham responded with a couple of corners, keeping the pressure on when Jarrod Bowen was slid in – the England man drawing a firm-handed save from Bernd Leno at his near post.
| Match Stats |
West Ham |
Fulham |
| Goals |
(0) 0 |
1 (0) |
|
| Scorers |
- |
Jimenez 85 |
| , |
| Goal attempts |
11 |
15 |
| On target |
2 |
4 |
| Shooting Accuracy |
18% |
26% |
| Possession |
44% |
56% |
| Passes |
391 |
497 |
| Passes Success |
82% |
86% |
| Crosses |
17 |
24 |
| Crosses Success |
12% |
38% |
| Corners |
5 |
4 |
| Tackles |
15 |
4 |
| Tackles Success |
56% |
27% |
| Saves |
3 |
2 |
| Fouls |
8 |
8 |
| Offsides |
7 |
2 |
| Yellows |
1 |
3 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
| source: SkySports |
Some nice movement from the Irons in the final third 25 minutes in culminated in Crysencio Summerville clipping a cross over to the unmarked Ollie Scarles, but the left-back sent his header wide.
Buoyed by that opening, they went closer soon after as Summerville’s shot deflected through a host of white shirts in the box, narrowly evading a decisive touch by Soungoutou Magassa for what would have been a tap-in at the back stick.
At the other end, excellent hold-up play from Raúl presented a sighter of goal for Kevin, but he was quickly swarmed and his shot lacked the power to trouble Areola.
Areola was then surprised by Joachim Andersen, making an unorthodox save with his legs to keep out his former teammate’s dipping strike from the best part of 35 yards. Wilson got to the loose ball first but put it wide according to the officials, though it looked like a claret toe may have had the final touch.
Intricate play down the right five minutes before the break ended with Saša Lukic dinking a cross into the path of Emile Smith Rowe, but he couldn’t get over his header and cleared the crossbar.
The opener looked certain to come Fulham’s way eight minutes into the second half when Wilson got the better of Scarles to break into the area, but his cutback could not be converted by Lukic or Kevin.
Shortly after the hour mark, Antonee Robinson spotted the forward run of Lukic and picked him out with a perfect cross, but the midfielder couldn’t quite direct his header inside of the upright.
West Ham had an even better chance moments later when Magassa’s pass found Bowen in the box, only for the England man to flick his first time effort wide.
The hosts had looked more of a threat since introducing a focal point up front in the guise of Callum Wilson, and with 20 minutes to play it was hearts in mouths as he managed to roll off the shoulder of Jorge Cuenca to open the pitch up for himself, only to pull his low strike wide.
Josh King had also come off the bench for Fulham and he had a sweetly hit half volley bravely blocked, before skinning his man and delivering a wicked ball across the face that was hacked away before anyone in white could convert.
Areola was called upon again on 84 minutes when Raúl got on the end of a delicious Robinson delivery, making himself big to save at his near post.
Raúl came out on top of that personal battle a mere 54 seconds later, though. Wilson capitalised on Scarles fluffing his clearance by looping a ball into the box for Raúl to power home.
The low-incident nature of the second half meant Fulham only had four minutes of added time to see out, something the lads did professionally to make it a hat-trick of top flight victories.
Fulham boss Marco Silva:
Was delighted by his side’s desire to fight for three points until the final moments at London Stadium.
Fulham’s meeting with West Ham United looked as though it was heading for a goalless draw until Harry Wilson capitalised on a defensive error to tee up Raúl Jiménez for the winner in the 85th minute.
“Very tight game, as we expected,” Silva said. “These type of games, they are not decisive, but they are always going to be very important for the home side to win this afternoon, but we showed our ambition.
West Ham United: Areola, Walker-Peters, Todibo, Kilman, Scarles, Magassa (Soucek 83), Potts, M Fernandes, L Paqueta (Earthy 83), Summerville (Wilson 56), Bowen
Unused substitutes: Hermansen, Mavropanos,
Yellow Card: Todibo (44,delay play)
Fulham:Leno, Tete (Castagne 82), Andersen, Cuenca, Robinson, Lukic (Diop 88), Berge, Wilson, Smith Rowe (Cairney 82), Kevin (King 69), Jimenez
Unused substitutes: Reed, Traore, Kusi-Asare, Lecomte, Ridgeon
Goals:
Raul Jimenez 85 (JIMENEZ HEADS FULHAM IN FRONT! Scarles' mistake is punished! The West Ham full-back completely missed his clearance and Wilson is there to lift a lovely cross over Tobido for Jimenez to head in back across Areola)
Yellow Card: Andersen (f,51), Wilson (delay play,
54), King (f,93)
Referee:
Chris Kavanagh (Lancashire)
Attendance: 0
Fulham are next in action at 17:30 Thursday 1st January 2026 when they meet up with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.