Fulham 5 West Ham 0: Free-scoring hosts move into top ten after running riot in dominant display over hapless Hammers
A GROUP of rowdy West Ham fans on their way to Craven Cottage via the Thames were aboard a boat that smacked into Hammersmith Bridge before kick-off.
Thankfully, the bridge – a 136-year-old beloved relic – was sturdy enough to take the hit.
The same cannot be said for David Moyes’ Hammers, who wilted during a woeful walloping at the hands of goal-crazy Fulham.
Raul Jimenez, Willian and Tosin Adarabioyo led the West London riot before Harry Wilson’s second-half screamer and Carlos Vinicius’ late tap-in, which makes it 16 strikes in their last four Premier League games, having scored just 10 in their opening 12 matches.
Incredibly, Marco Silva’s Cottagers have become the first Fulham side to score three or more goals in four successive top-flight games since 1961.
And they did it in a London derby, their first victory against a capital rival in 11 months, that sees them jump into the top half for just the third time since August.
For all the good work West Ham have done this season, they always seem to have a performance like this in them – one that fuels those who still call for Moyes’ head.
The Scot may have delivered the club a European trophy back in June – their first piece of silverware since 1980 – but he is still one bad showing away from the East end boo-boys.
It will not help that Moyes, 60, now has 238 Prem defeats – a record-levelling tally with Harry Redknapp.
It is the inconsistency, both in results and style of play, that leaves West Ham fans wondering if the grass could be greener.
Be careful what you wish for, perhaps, but Moyes will know he cannot afford too many more afternoons like this if he is to keep the Irons faithful fully onside.
West Ham were forced into two changes to the side that sprung an incredible comeback north of the river against Tottenham in mid-week.
Edson Alvarez was left at home while Emerson Palmieri could only make the bench, both nursing illness, and Lukasz Fabianski continued to deputise in goal for the injured Alphonse Areola.
Pablo Fornals and Aaron Cresswell were drafted in, the latter for his first start at left-back having played just 85 minutes of Prem football all season.
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Fulham – unchanged from the 5-0 battering of Nottingham Forest on Wednesday – targeted Cresswell from the off with Andreas Pereira and Alex Iwobi enjoying early success.
The visitors had a bright start but stuttered as Silva’s boys gained control before Jimenez headed home in the 22nd minute from a wonderful Joao Palhinha cross.
Palhinha was given all the time in the world to pick out the Mexican striker, who drifted in between Cresswell and Nayef Aguerd, with West Ham’s pressure on the ball non-existent.
Moyes wanted to see the same intensity and aggression showed to wrestle back a win against Spurs, having earned their last three wins after going behind.
Yet his men looked leggy and lacking in belief and hunger.
They were punished for that yet again in the 31st minute. Aguerd’s poor pass was intercepted and Iwobi had the freedom of Craven Cottage to force a save from Fabianski.
Unsurprisingly, Pereira was first to the rebound, his low delivery across goal initially fluffed by Iwobi but an unmarked Willian arrived late to fire into the bottom corner.
Moyes frantically scribbled down some notes, hoping to tear into his players at the break only 2-0 down – but that wish was gone in the 41st minute.
Tom Cairney – on his 300th Fulham appearance – whipped in a corner and Kurt Zouma was beaten in the air by Adarabioyo, whose header was deflected in by Vladimir Coufal.
Damage limitation was the order of the day for Moyes at the break, hauling off Cresswell and Fornals for Konstantinos Mavropanos and Emerson, switching to a safety-first back five.
Further damages were still to come, however. Wilson – on after Willian picked up a knock in first-half injury time – smacked in a long-range belter on the hour mark.
West Ham never looked like snatching a consolation goal, not that they deserved it, and it was telling that skipper Zouma was subbed off shortly after Wilson’s contribution.
In truth, Fulham should have scored plenty more before Wilson broke free one-on-one only to selfishly tee-up Vinicius in the 89th minute for his first Prem goal since September.
West Ham are one win away from topping their Europa League group, sit ninth in the Prem and are in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.
To consider the manager’s position after a result like this then is arguably a bridge too far.
Regardless, the Moyes-Out brigade will be readying their pitchforks after this one, no doubt.
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