West Ham snatched a point late on at Fulham on Saturday as Danny Ings struck in the 95th minute to grab a point.
Fulham dominated the first half and Raul Jimenez gave them a much-deserved lead, but West Ham impressively massively in the second half as Ings’ late, late strike levelled things up.
Fulham will be livid they couldn’t hold on for their second win of the season but in truth a draw was a probably result. With the draw West Ham move on to four points for the season, while Fulham have five points.
Hammers get out of jail as new style taking its time
Michail Antonio and Tomas Soucek, two huge players for West Ham under former manager David Moyes, were hooked off at half time by Julen Lopetegui and it was easy to understand why. West Ham’s new manager is trying to implement a new style and era and he had just watched his side put in a wretched first half. He looked at Lucas Paqueta and Crysencio Summerville on the bench early in the first half and told them to be ready. It was that bad. But West Ham did look more dynamic in the second half, with Paqueta pulling the strings, Jarrod Bowen buzzing around and the duo of Kudus and Summerville pinning back Fulham out wide as they grabbed a point late on. It was much better and showed the control Lopetegui wants them to have during games. It will take time as new signings continue to settle in. There are eight key new players who will all play their part in this overhaul but it’s hard to bring them all in at the same time. In the short-term there will be plenty more games like this one, with disjointed play and results from one half to the next to be expected. It’s only natural after West Ham had such a settled style of play for most of this squad over the last four years with Moyes at the helm. Big changes are happening but we shouldn’t judge Lopetegui and this new-look West Ham until the second half of this season.
Fulham vs West Ham player ratings
Via our friends at FotMob.com you can see Traore, Jimenez and Smith Rowe were excellent for Fulham, and so too was USMNT left back Antonee Robinson. West Ham’s starters struggled but Paqueta, Summerville and Ings all had a big impact off the bench as Lopetegui got his substitutions spot on.
What’s next?
Fulham head to Preston in the League Cup on Tuesday, then host Newcastle in the league next Saturday. West Ham are next in action when they host London rivals Chelsea next Saturday.
How to watch Fulham vs West Ham live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 10am ET Saturday (September 14)
Venue: Craven Cottage
TV Channel: Peacock Premium
Streaming: Premier League on Peacock
Fulham vs West Ham final score: 1-1
Jimenez 24'; Ings 95'
Fulham vs West Ham live updates! - By Joe Prince-Wright
Full time: Fulham 1-1 West Ham
Oh my word, Fulham nearly win it with the last kick of the game. Bassey’s header flies inches wide and that is it. Game over. West Ham have snatched a point right at the end.
Danny Ings squeezes home - Fulham 1-1 West Ham
Fulham will be kicking themselves. Bowen just keeps the ball in and pulls it back for Ings who takes a great first touch and squeezes it home at the near post. West Ham have grabbed a point right at the end. Drama!
Fulham should be 2-0 up!
Smith Rowe’s shot is going in but hits his own player Jimenez, then a rebound is fired just wide. Fulham have regained their composure.
Bowen denied by a superb stop by Leno
A Kudus cross into the box finds Bowen and he controls and fires on goal but Leno makes a great stop down low. Bowen can’t believe it. He thought that was in. So much better from the Hammers.
West Ham have improved, drastically
Well, they couldn’t get any worse could they? West Ham have been much better in the second half and with Soucek and Antonio off at half time and Summerville and Paqueta on, they look more fluid and in control. Emerson has just come off injured with Wan-Bissaka going to left back and Coufal on at right back.
Half time: Fulham 1-0 West Ham
The only positive for West Ham is that it’s only 1-0. They have barely had a kick and the Hammers have been woeful. Lopetegui is fuming on the sidelines. Traore and Smith Rowe have been superb, while Jimenez has his goal and Fulham look so calm and controlled.
Raul Jimenez slots home! - Fulham 1-0 West Ham
Lovely play from Fulham, as Smith Rowe is played in over the top and crosses for Jimenez to clip home at the near post. Jimenez now has six goals against West Ham in the Premier League and it’s great to see him scoring and playing with freedom again.
Traore somehow heads Iwobi’s cross wide
Brilliant ball from Iwobi and Traore heads wide from close range. He has to score there.
Oh, is that a penalty kick!? No says the ref!
Adama Traore is in the box and his old Wolves teammate Max Kilman just leans on him and he goes down. Marco Silva, and everybody connected with Fulham, want a penalty kick. Nothing is given. It looked like Traore went down quite easily.
Jimenez almost scores with a cheeky back heel
Good play down the left from Fulham and the ball finds Mexico’s Raul Jimenez in the box and his cheeky back heel towards goal is saved by Areola.
Fulham lineup
Leno; Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Lukic, Pereira; Traore, Smith Rowe, Iwobi; Jimenez
West Ham lineup
Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kilman, Emerson; Alvarez, Rodriguez, Soucek; Bowen, Antonio, Kudus
Fulham focus, team news
In terms of injuries, Fulham only have one player absent as Carlos Vinicius is missing with a small issue. Silva will start Muniz or Jimenez up top with Smith Rowe, Traore, Pereira and Iwobi in support of him, while Berge may start but Lukic has looked solid in central midfield. At center back Andersen arrived for big money from Crystal Palace and will surely start alongside one of Bassey or Diop soon.
OUT: Carlos Vinicius (small injury)
West Ham focus, team news
There are so many options for Lopetegui, especially in midfield and attack, and Fullkrug (if he’s fit) is surely pushing hard for a start as it’s all about getting the right combinations. Can he play up top with Antonio just off him? Jarrod Bowen is the skipper and guaranteed to start on the right wing but Summerville is pushing Kudus hard to start on the other. Competition is not a bad thing and the Hammers certainly have that wherever you look across their squad.
OUT: Aaron Cresswell (thigh) | QUESTIONABLE: Niclas Fullkrug (thigh), Alphonse Areola (back)
Fulham vs West Ham prediction
This feels like it will be a sneaky good game, with both teams possessing some real quality in attack and earmarking this as a game they should win. Go for the Hammers to edge it. Fulham 2-3 West Ham.
