Fulham

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between West Ham and Fulham.

Here are some of your comments:

West Ham fans

Peter: Ollie Scarles is a kid and we all make mistakes as we move forward. Who was marking Raul Jimenez? Who couldn't stick the ball in the net? Players with years of experience. Who facilitated the buying of this bunch of no-hopers? Are you reading this, David Sullivan and Karren Brady?

Mo: The manager is not brave enough with his substitutions. He waits for the opposition to make changes. This game was crying out for Callum Wilson, Tomas Soucek and Konstantinos Mavrapanos in place of Lucas Paqueta, Scarles, and Soungoutou Magassa.

David: This is all down to the ownership. We have had a succession of managers who, while not being Pep Guardiola or Mikel Arteta, are more than capable of getting us to mid-table. Poor transfer choices and the move to that ridiculous stadium are still a monkey on our back. All down to the penny-pinching owners. If Wrexham can get Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac, Birmingham Tom Brady, and Swansea Snoop Dog, Martha Stewart and Luka Modric, why can't we get some big-name, media friendly, enthusiastic investors?

Simon: We huffed and puffed but Fulham blew our house down. Since David Moyes left, we have been on a downhill trajectory. Tim Steiden is one of our worst signings ever. The duds he has bought we now want to sell and the person you blame for that hire is David Sullivan. With no striker and a brittle defence, we do look doomed.

Fulham fans

Teddy: I thought we had control of the game and that it was a deserved win. West Ham had a few good chances but I didn't once lose faith in Bernd Leno. An important three points and European qualification is back on!

Bill: Grinding out results like this with three players away at Afcon along with injuries is very encouraging. Our form recently has been outstanding, so with shrewd transfers in January, who knows where we could end up?

Lee: Marco Silva is getting the best out of a small squad of experienced players. Fulham may lack flair and look pedestrian at times but they play as a team and do their homework on their opponents. It looks like another mid-table finish beckons and for a club with the budget and resources of Fulham, that is commendable. Silva may feel that the owners lack the ambition to back him properly and I fear that this will be his last season with the club. A vital win for us against a West Ham side that lacks confidence and may well lose the battle against relegation.

Gordon: We rode our luck. We have the players to make a half-chance count but soon our luck will run out. West Ham forged a number of chances and sliced us open a number of times but lacked luck with some of their shots. We need to use this momentum to tighten up at the back and work on creating more chances so we don't rely on Harry Wilson and his impossible shots.

Fulham have rekindled their interest in PSV's 22-year-old USA striker Ricardo Pepi, who the Dutch club value at around £40m. (Mail), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

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Sam Ashoo
Final Score reporter at the London Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

It is no coincidence that Fulham's recent good form has coincided with Antonee Robinson's return to action.

The defender was out for almost three months earlier this season but since coming back into the side, the Cottagers have won three out of their past four matches.

Their latest, against West Ham on Saturday, was arguably his best performance of the season, too.

It speaks volumes that it is hard to say whether Robinson is better at attacking or defending. He is simply excellent at both.

He consistently found space at London Stadium, linking well with Emile Smith Rowe in particular and his end product was pinpoint. Defensively, a clean sheet speaks for itself.

For the stats lovers out there, Robinson had the second-highest amount of touches (93), a 94% accurate pass rate, created more chances than any other player (4) and a 100% accurate long ball rate.

Robinson is known as 'Jedi' to his friends and family. It is safe to say that The Force is currently with Fulham.

Pundits Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney join host Gabby Logan to bring you the action and talking points from Friday and Saturday's Premier League fixtures.

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• Arsenal 2-1 Brighton

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Michael Emons
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Fulham have now gained six victories in nine games to ease their own relegation fears, with this success over West Ham taking them up to 10th.

A draw may have been the fair result, but boss Marco Silva was understandably delighted with his side's victory, which was secured thanks to Raul Jimenez's 85th-minute header.

The Cottagers began the game well with Jimenez shooting over from 18 yards, before Wilson forced a superb save from Alphonse Areola with the goalkeeper tipping a powerful 25-yard strike over the bar.

But, after a bright opening, the visitors were largely restricted to long-range efforts, although Joachim Andersen almost embarrassed Areola with a 35-yard strike, which the goalkeeper had to save with his legs.

Jimenez fired well over from one of their few chances in the second half and Marco Silva's side had to defend well to stay level as the hosts missed opportunities to take the lead

But Jimenez gave the Hammers a warning of what was to come as he forced a save from Areola, before the Mexico striker became the match-winner for the second game in a row.

Fulham manager Marco Silva spoke to BBC Match of the Day after his side's victory over West Ham: "Big win for us, if last week was a crucial one and a massive three points, then this one was even more important for us to climb to a position in the table we deserved to be in. Third win in a row away from home is difficult to achieve in the premier league.

"We were well organised most of the time, we knew what we had to do, knew we would have the possession.

"We knew they are strong in the offensive transition, how they play those moments with Bowen, Summerville, with Paqueta being the player to link up. They had some dangerous moments, they created, but most of the time we were in control.

"Second half we created more than the first. The dynamic in attack was better, we created chances, and keeping a clean sheet away from home is important.

"A draw would not have been unfair. They had chances, we had chances. These types of games are important until the end. I thought when we scored were were the dominant team, but of course looking at chances, shots, the draw probably would have been fair."

On Raul Jimenez's late goal: "It's what he's capable of, he showed again he gives everything for the shirt his work ethic is unbelievable for a player his age and what he can offer the team. He needs goals to be more confident. He deserves the credit, he has been working very hard."

Did you know?

• Fulham have won three consecutive league games for the first time since January 2023 (4), while manager Marco Silva now boasts more Premier League wins against West Ham United than any other opponent, with today his seventh (D1 L4).

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on West Ham's performance

What did you make of Fulham's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

West Ham, who have not won in six matches in all competitions are unchanged from the 11 that began the 3-0 loss at Manchester City a week ago.

West Ham XI: Areola, Todibo, Kilman, Magassa, Walker-Peters, Scarles, Potts, Fernandes, Summerville, Paqueta, Bowen

Subs: Hermansen, Earthy, Mavropanos, Rodriguez, Soucek, Kante, Golambeckis, Mayers, Wilson

Fulham also name the same 11 that began the 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest on Monday. The Cottagers are aiming to secure their third away win in a row.

Fulham XI: Leno, Robinson, Andersen, Cuenca, Tete, Lukic, Berge, Wilson, Smith-Rowe, Kevin, Jimenez

Subs: Lecomte, Castagne, Reed, Diop, Ridgeon, Cairney, King, Traore, Kusi-Asare

There are seven games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Nottingham Forest v Manchester City (12:30)

• Arsenal v Brighton - BBC Radio 5 Live

• Brentford v Bournemouth

• Burnley v Everton

• Liverpool v Wolves - BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• West Ham v Fulham

• Chelsea v Aston Villa (17:30) - BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

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West Ham really need a win here. They are staring down the barrel of relegation after taking only two points from their past five games.

Nuno Espirito Santo got a bit of a bounce at the start of November but they have not maintained that form.

There does not seem to be much Christmas cheer at London Stadium at the moment and if they get off to a bad start here, things could turn quite quickly.

Fulham got an important win over Nottingham Forest on Monday, which was enough for them to keep their heads above water in the relegation struggle.

They always seem to pose a goal threat, and I have a feeling they will have something to celebrate here, too.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport journalist

West Ham United aim to end their six-game winless run against in-form Fulham.

BBC Sport examines some of the key themes ahead of Saturday's meeting at London Stadium (15:00 GMT).

Festive failings

The phrase 'too good to go down' is one often used in relation to certain Premier League teams, although West Ham's current run of poor form may mean it is not attributed to the Hammers very often during the festive season.

The east London club's tally of 13 points is their joint-lowest Premier League tally at Christmas, matching the 13 they recorded in 2010-11 – a campaign in which they were relegated after finishing bottom of the table.

So while the West Ham roster boasts players as talented as Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta, they have not won in the Premier League since a 3-2 victory against Burnley on 8 November.

The data suggests that poor results stem from a squad still struggling to adapt to head coach Nuno Espirito Santo's counter-attacking style.

The Hammers have less of the ball on average than under predecessor Graham Potter, but record fewer shots on target and fewer touches in the opposition box, alongside facing a greater number of shots on target themselves.

Nuno is averaging just 0.83 points per game as Hammers boss, the lowest tally of any permanent manager in their Premier League history.

Fulham in form before festive fixtures

Facing in-form Fulham may not be on West Ham's Christmas list given they have lost all five of their Premier League games against fellow London sides this season, conceding 14 goals and scoring just twice.

The Hammers last lost six consecutive league London derbies between April 1996 and January 1997.

Fulham, meanwhile, have been resurgent in recent weeks, winning four of their past six matches.

Only Manchester City, Arsenal and Aston Villa have won more than Fulham's 15 points since the start of November, while the Cottagers have triumphed in their past two away Premier League matches, as many as in their previous 12 fixtures on the road combined.

Striker Raul Jimenez was the match-winner against Nottingham Forest on Monday night. His decisive penalty equalled former Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure's perfect record of 11 successful penalties from 11 – the joint best 100% record in the competition's history.

Jimenez also likes playing against West Ham. He has scored six goals against them, his joint best tally against any top-flight club, along with Everton.

Karan Vinod
BBC Sport journalist

Fulham boss Marco Silva has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against West Ham at London Stadium (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On the availability of recent talisman Harry Wilson, who picked up an injury late on during the win over Nottingham Forest on Monday: "In that moment, it looked more serious than what it is right now. We are still assessing his big knock in the knee. It was painful, still painful, so let's see. We have to assess him. We are going to have another session and then take a decision."

• Silva labelled Wilson as "crucial", describing him as a player "in the top of his confidence" and as someone who is "helping the team win football matches".

• He also confirmed Ryan Sessegnon remains unavailable because of a thigh injury.

• On the need for discipline from players over Christmas: "We all know the way they should behave; of course, we are there to repeat it every time you think it is necessary."

• Silva said that the fixtures and preparation around Christmas this season are "slightly different" than usual, adding he believes "the busiest period will come after the West Ham game".

• With five games in the next 15 days, the Fulham boss said he has "an idea" of the players who can "recover quicker than the others" and those "who are the players that need more time".

• However, he gave the caveat that while he has "a plan in mind", injuries and recovery timelines can force changes. He also noted that a thin squad will not offer opportunity for much rotation.

• On facing struggling West Ham: "Position in the table can give you confidence, but sometimes it doesn't speak about your quality. We expect them with all the energy they have to change the last few results, and with the individual quality they have, some key players that can at any moment decide a game."

Drew Heatley
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

There is the long-running debate about whether there is any value in the January transfer window.

And, truth be told, it entirely depends on the buying club and what it needs. January is a seller's market.

Fulham desperately need a striker in the window. Rodrigo Muniz remains sidelined after surgery and Raul Jimenez's all-round game is suffering through fatigue. He needs someone to lessen the burden and we need someone to help fire us up the table.

Our plight is public – so clubs will raise their prices accordingly. And who can blame them?

There is, of course, the option to avoid spending millions and bring someone in on loan.

We currently have Jonah Kusi-Asare, a teenage prospect from Bayern Munich whose chances of a first-team run have been played down at every opportunity by Marco Silva, who clearly does not think he is ready. Why not send him back and bring in a more seasoned striker in that same spot?

It has paid dividends for us in the past. Vincenzo Montella arrived on loan in January 2007 and scored five goals in 14 to help steer us clear of the drop zone.

Five years later, Pavel Pogrebnyak came in and scored four goals in his first three games to rocket us from 14th to eighth. We must now look for something similar.

The January window is for fighting fires, for plugging gaps. If clubs take a punt on a player to instantly solve their problem – and it works – then the value of the deal cannot be debated.

It is high risk for a high reward – but that is what makes the game so fun.

Find more from Drew Heatley at Fulhamish, external

Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

On Saturday, Everton were adamant they should have been given a penalty.

Arsenal defender William Saliba had kicked the boot of Thierno Barry. Referee Sam Barrott said no and, after some deliberation, he was backed up by the video assistant referee (VAR), Michael Salisbury.

On Monday, Fulham's match-winning penalty against Nottingham Forest came after Douglas Luiz had lightly kicked the foot of Kevin. Referee Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot.

Fans might well say the Saliba challenge looked like more of a penalty. The key difference? The on-field decision.

In the early days of VAR in the Premier League there were many soft penalties. Most memorable is probably the spot-kick given to Brighton when Liverpool's Andy Robertson kicked the boot of Danny Welbeck, who went down theatrically.

So ahead of the 2021-22 season the threshold for a VAR intervention was raised.

Now when two players challenge for a ball which is off the ground, and both have a realistic prospect of winning it, the VAR is not expected to give a spot-kick if one player gets there marginally faster.

Indeed, two seasons ago Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus wanted a penalty against Aston Villa when he was kicked, coincidentally, by Douglas Luiz.

The Premier League's Key Match Incidents Panel voted the VAR was correct not to get involved in the incident, which had similarities to Saliba on Barry.

The issue is that, as we saw with Fulham's spot-kick, if the referee had given the penalty to Everton the VAR would not have said it was wrong.

In Europe, Saliba's challenge would almost certain have been a penalty.

European leagues penalise these offences more strictly to ensure consistency.

In the Premier League, the high bar means the on-field decision is more important - and that can only lead to inconsistencies, perceived or otherwise.

We asked for your thoughts after Monday's Premier League game between Fulham and Nottingham Forest.

Here are some of your comments:

Fulham fans

James: Jimenez never misses from the penalty spot! It was a very evenly matched and well battled game. It wasn't great to watch but all that matters is that they got the winning goal and the three points.

Terry: We looked lightweight at times against a Forest side who played some very nice football, and only a fantastic effort from our defence kept them out. An ugly game, but three vital points.

Dan: Solid win for Fulham and shows squad depth we have this year. We need to talk about Kevin!

Will: Definitely won't win any game of the seasons nominations but a very important three points to move us towards the top 10. Raul cool as ice as per usual.

Forest fans

Jon: Awful performance. No quality and no idea how to break Fulham down. The subs came on and killed the game. Does Dyche really think bringing McAtee and Awoniyi on will work? Both terrible! Will be a relegation battle all the way.

Austin: Really poor from Forest against a weakened Fulham. So many misplaced passes and overhit crosses. No real intensity. Even Anderson was very poor. We have to do better away from home or we will stay in a relegation fight all season.

Tom: That was intensely disappointing. Never looked likely to come back from the penalty. The lack of goal threat was worrying, with 30-yard shots not going to do it.

James: I dream of the day we will beat either Fulham or Bournemouth...

Fulham boss Marco Silva spoke to Sky Sports after the match against Nottingham Forest: "We are very happy and pleased for the players for the three points. They are massive for us. We spoke before the match about how it's going to be important for us to get the three points and win again at home, and to have back-to-back Premier League wins after the last three points against Burnley. Those three points make more sense if you're going to win at home, and we did it.

"At the end, a difficult game. The first half was better than the second from ourselves. You manage well the second half off the ball. On the ball was not at our level, but the first half we had some good moments the way we started the game.

"We scored at an important moment of the game, before half-time. The second half we did manage well, I can't remember one chance from Nottingham Forest - that is the truth."

Did you know? Since the start of November, only Manchester City (21), Aston Villa (21) and Arsenal (17) have earned more points in the Premier League than Fulham (15).

On the reliability of Raul Jimenez: "He's very important and he needed goals. He had two good chances with the head, two great headers from him. One in the first half because the reality in the first half we had two great chances. One with Sasa Lukic at the edge of the box and the other of Raul to start leading the score.

"He's a hard worker. He's a guy that always puts everything on the pitch. He gives his heart for the team. He's going to fight for the shirt every single moment. Of course, he needs confidence. The goals will give him confidence because he will start to link our game to be the right guy. I'm pleased for him. In that moment he was cool enough to decide in a great penalty."

Did you know? Fulham's Raúl Jiménez has the joint-best 100% penalty conversion rate in Premier League history (11/11), along with Yaya Touré.

Keifer MacDonald
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

With manager Marco Silva without several of his key players because of international commitments, this was a huge victory for Fulham.

With Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey and Samuel Chukwueze spending the month representing Nigeria at Afcon, the Cottagers were missing a trio who had started a collective total of 34 out of a possible 48 games in the Premier League this season.

But when Kevin, making just his fourth start of the league campaign, raced past the Nottingham Forest defence and whipped a delightful ball across the face of goal within the first 30 seconds, it was clear Fulham were out to show they were more than capable of securing victory in the absence of their key men.

On the night, it was the unpredictability of Kevin and the experience of left-back Antonee Robinson that spurred the Cottagers to victory.

Brazil youth international Kevin, who arrived from Shakhtar for a club record £34.6m in September, was lively throughout his 78 minutes of action before being replaced by King, with his trickery and close control drawing a foul from Luiz in first-half stoppage time to earn the decisive spot-kick for his side.

At 22-years-old, it is only natural that the wide forward has plenty to learn and improve upon, his decision-making in particular, but this outing is one that will provide plenty of excitement for Fulham fans, particularly when they are without Chukwueze.

With Brazil's assistant manager Paul Clement in attendance, Kevin's performance could give the national coaches something to think about before next summer's World Cup.

In the meantime, he is likely to have plenty more opportunities to impress in the Premier League until Chukwueze returns from international duty.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Fulham's performance

What did you make of Nottingham Forest's display?

Come back on Tuesday for a selection of your replies

Fulham manager Marco Silva has made just one change to the side that was defeated by Newcastle United in the League Cup quarter-final last week, with goalkeeper Bernd Leno starting in place of Benjamin Lecomte.

Silva is, of course, without Samuel Chukwueze, Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey, who are representing Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Fulham XI: Leno, Tete, Andersen, Cuenca, Robinson; Berge, Lukic, Wilson, Smith Rowe, Kevin, Jimenez

Subs: Lecomte, Reed, King, Traore, Kusi-Asare, Diop, Castagne, Ridgeon, Cairney

Like the hosts, Forest are also impacted by Afcon, with Ibrahim Sangare, a scorer against Tottenham Hotspur last week, representing Ivory Coast.

It means Luiz replacing Sangare is the only change for the Midlanders.

Nottingham Forest XI: Victor, Savona, Milenkovic, Murillo,Williams; Luiz, Anderson; Hutchinson, Gibbs-White,Hudson-Odoi, Igor Jesus.

Subs: Sels, Morato, Awoniyi, Kalimuendo, Domínguez, McAtee, Bakwa, Zinchenko, Abbott.

Fulham are another team who I usually fancy to win at home, but they have been depleted by Afcon call-ups.

Samuel Chukwueze has been a really good impact player recently but Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey have been the heartbeat of Marco Silva's side this season, and all three will be missed.

As for Nottingham Forest, they are on fire with six wins in eight games in all competitions. Maybe 'Dyche-ball' is going under the radar a bit, because they are doing very well.

Bassey got the winner in this fixture last season but, as I mentioned, he is not here and this is a very different Forest side too.

I can see this being a very tight affair. I was looking for a reason to say my boyhood team Forest will win, but Harry Wilson will score for Fulham and they can't keep a clean sheet, so it has 1-1 written all over it.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here