In a thrilling Premier League encounter at the London Stadium, West Ham United edged out Fulham 3-2, handing Graham Potter his first victory as Hammers’ head coach.
The match was packed with drama, mistakes, and great goals, making for an exciting contest that had fans on the edge of their seats.
Potter’s Warm Reception and Early Fulham Domination
Potter, in his first Premier League match since taking charge of West Ham, was warmly welcomed by the home crowd.
The atmosphere was electric as his side faced off against a Fulham team that had been in impressive form.
But in a match filled with mistakes, it was West Ham who made the most of their chances.
Fulham started the game strongly, dominating possession and leaving West Ham chasing shadows for the first half-hour.
The visitors looked dangerous, with Harry Wilson coming close to scoring early on. He hit the crossbar with a volley from an Alex Iwobi cross, and later blasted over from distance.
Fulham also had more chances, with Maximilian Kilman blocking a shot from Emile Smith Rowe and other efforts flying wide. But it was West Ham who struck first.
West Ham Take Control with Two Quick Goals
In the 31st minute, Fulham’s defense failed to clear the ball properly, and Carlos Soler pounced on a poor pass from Andreas Pereira.
With Bernd Leno caught out of position, Soler made no mistake, sending the ball into the back of the net to give West Ham the lead.
Just two minutes later, Tomas Soucek doubled the advantage. After a well-worked team move, Soucek converted a perfect cross from Aaron Wan-Bissaka, putting West Ham firmly in control.
Fulham Fight Back with a Lucky Deflection
Fulham’s response came early in the second half.
Alex Iwobi’s cross from the left wing found the net after a deflection, with the ball sneaking past West Ham goalkeeper Łukasz Fabiański.
It was a moment of fortune for Fulham, and it gave them a much-needed boost.
Leno’s Mistake Gifts West Ham a Third Goal
However, West Ham restored their two-goal lead in the 71st minute, thanks to another defensive blunder from Fulham.
This time, goalkeeper Bernd Leno was caught in possession by substitute Danny Ings.
The ball broke loose to Lucas Paquetá, who slotted it into the empty net, sending the home fans into celebration.
Fulham’s Late Push Falls Short
But the drama wasn’t over. With 12 minutes to go, Iwobi whipped in another dangerous cross that found its way into the net, making it 3-2.
The visitors pressed hard for an equalizer, but it was too little, too late.
Fulham’s nine-match unbeaten run in the Premier League came to an end as they failed to capitalize on their late chances.
West Ham Hold Firm for Potter’s First Win
Despite Fulham’s pressure, West Ham held firm and saw out the match.
Potter could finally breathe a sigh of relief as he celebrated his first win at the helm. His side was clinical, converting three out of their four shots on target into goals.
The victory moved West Ham up to 12th in the Premier League table, ahead of Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United.
A Lesson in Taking Chances
The game was a reminder of the importance of taking your chances. While Fulham had plenty of opportunities, they struggled to convert them into goals.
West Ham, on the other hand, made the most of their limited chances and took full advantage of Fulham’s defensive mistakes.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, West Ham will be hoping to build on this win as they face Crystal Palace in another home derby on Saturday.
Fulham, on the other hand, will need to regroup quickly and refocus as they look to get back to winning ways.
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