• Date: Sat 27 September 2008
  • Venue: Craven Cottage
  • Ref: Marriner, A
  • Attendance: 23,946
Fulham

Fulham

Murphy (59) P

1 - 2
West Ham United

West Ham United

Cole (43)

Etherington (45)

Fulham vs West Ham United

Team Lineups

Fulham

Mark Schwarzer
John Paintsil
Brede Hangeland
Aaron Hughes
Paul Konchesky
Jimmy Bullard
Danny Murphy
Zoltan Gera
Simon Davies
Bobby Zamora
Andrew Johnson, A

West Ham United

Robert Green
Herita Ilunga
Lucas Neill
Valon Behrami
Matthew Upson
Matthew Etherington (Hayden Mullins, 80)
Scott Parker (Luis Boa Morte, 90)
Mark Noble
Julien Faubert
Carlton Cole
David Di Michele (Craig Bellamy, 74)


Live Text Commentary
Full time
 

Full-Time: FULHAM 1-2 WEST HAM.

90
Substitution
 

Luis Boa Morte comes on for Parker as we approach full time.

90

Behrami should have sealed things for West Ham after latching onto a Bellamy pass, but Schwarzer saves well.

90

Three minutes remaining for Fulham to grab an equaliser.

89

Bullard's luck with free kicks isn't changing. His latest effort from 30 yards is blocked by Parker and the danger is cleared.

88
Yellow Card
 

Brede Hangeland is booked for a foul on Valon Behrami as we approach the end of normal time.

88

Cole has a shot just inside the penalty area, but it is well blocked by Paintsil. good defending, but Fulham need to be up the other end of the pitch.

87

Fulham are running out of time now. If they are to get only their second goal in a second half this season - it's going to be a late one.

86

Bellamy has given his West Ham side a real boost since coming on by giving Fulham something to think about. He is caught offside again though.

85

Fulham come forward with Bullard down the right wing, but his cross is a poor one and it's a goal kick to West Ham. Very frustrating for the home fans.

83

Fulham need to get more of the ball than they are. West Ham attack again, but Bellamy is caught offside.

82

That was a crucial block from Hangeland from Bellamy's first attempt. He has kept his side in the game.

81

Bellamy has his first attempts at goal. After his original effort was blocked by Hangeland, the striker fired over from 12 yards.

80
Substitution
 

Hayden Mullins is brought on to replace Etherington as Zola looks to shut up shop.

79

West Ham have two shots at goal in quick succession. First Cole fires wide before Parker's shot goes straight into the arms of Schwarzer.

78

After a neat passing move from the home side, Zamora's attempt at goal is off target. He really doesn't have his shooting boots on today.

76

As Fulham push forward searching for an equaliser, Gera strikes the ball wide from 20 yards. Decent effort.

76

It looks as if the pressure could be getting to the West Ham players as well. They are giving the ball away far too cheaply.

75

With 15 minutes to go, the West Ham fans have gone very quiet. They must be nervous. Their team was home and dry 20 minutes ago.

74
Substitution
 

Craig Bellamy returns from injury to replace Di Michele for West Ham

73

If Fulham do manage to pull it back, it will be their first draw of 2008.

71

A West Ham free kick just outside the penalty area is wasted by Faubert who fires it high and wide. Why was he taking it?

70

With over 20 minutes still to play, we are going to have a late finish at Craven Cottage. Meaning there is still plenty of time for Fulham to find an equaliser.

69

The resulting free kick finds the head of Zamora, but from close range he puts it inches wide. That was his best chance of the game.

68
Yellow Card
 

Parker is then booked for a late challenge.

67

West Ham know they need to take the pace out of the game and this is shown when Parker plays the ball all the way back to Green from inside Fulham's half.

65

You would have thought that Zola might be considering a change soon - they just can't get the ball right now.

64

Bullard is involved again as Fulham push forward, this time he fires a shot over Green's crossbar. It would have been quite an effort to score from that far out.

63

Bullard is very lively now. His ball towards Zamora isn't quite good enough, but their is a new sense of belief aroung Craven Cottage.

61

West Ham shouldn't panic despite Fulham getting a goal back. They know that one more goal will win it for them.

60

Fulham are trying to force the issue. Davies does well on the left hand side before his cross just avades Gera at the back post. That was excellent play from Davies.

60

That really is an unlikely life line for Fulham. The crowd are noisy now and they are going to give it everything.

58
Goal
 

Murphy slots the ball home from the spot. Game on.

56

Fulham win a PENALTY - can they get themselves back into it?

56

It looks almost certain that West Ham are going to end their 38 game run without back to back victories. They can't mess this up surely?

54

It's all West Ham at the moment, as you might expect. Di Michele gets on the end of a Ilunga cross, but it fails to beat Schwarzer who is keeping his team in this. Just.

53

The resulting corner falls to Neill 12 yards from goal but he can't get himself in a good enough position to test the keeper too much.

52

Faubert is enjoying himself now. The full back bursts down the right wing before his cross finds Ilunga who forces another fine save from Schwarzer.

51

Bullard gives the ball away two easily for Fulham. Luckily for the England midfielder, West Ham quickly give it back, but that was sloppy play.

51

The visitors are dominating now. This time they come close through Faubert who can only watch as his 25 yard shot hits the bar and goes over.

50

Two chances in quick succession for West Ham. First of all Noble forces an excellent save from Schwarzer before the corner is cleared at the far post by Davies.

49

West Ham haven't kept a clean sheet in the last 17 matches and they certainly won't get a better chance to end this run than today.

47

Bullard attempts to find Zamora, but the move breaks down. With only one striker now, Fulham may have to rethink their attacking style.

46

After the dramatic end to the first half, it really is an uphill struggle for Fulham and is going to take an amazing second half performance for them to get back into it.

Second half
 

The second half is underway with Fulham having it all to do to protect their unbeaten home record.

Half time
 

That's half time and West Ham lead 2-0.

45
Goal
 

It's a second goal for the visitors as Etherington scores from 18 yards - what a finish to the first half!

45
Red Card
 

Dramatically, Johnson is sent off for a second bookable offence after he brought down Neil.

45
Yellow Card
 

Into injury time, Murphy is booked for a challenge on Noble. That was a clear sign of frustration.

45

Fulham look to respond straight away, but Bullard's free kick from 30 yards is blocked by Cole and cleared away.

43
Goal
 

Against the run of play, Cole gets the first goal of the game as he latches onto an Etherington pass to slot the ball home.

43

As much as Fulham have looked threatening going forward, the West Ham defence looks far from steady and that has contributed to the hosts having so many attempts at goal. They are letting them in far too often.

42

Davies almost gets the first goal as he fires just wide from 12 yards as another half chance for Fulham goes without a goal being scored.

41

As we approach half time, it is worth noting that Fulham haven't scored a goal in the second period of any game this season. They need to get one before the break!

40
Yellow Card
 

It's the second booking of the game as Paul Konchesky is cautioned for a challenge on Etherington. He won the ball, but it was a dangerous tackle.

39

Valon Behrami gets the ball off Mark Noble before producing a decent cross into the box which is cut out by Hangeland at the near post.

38

Green throws the ball out to Julien Faubert, but he loses it to Gera. Nothing comes from it, but that was poor defending.

37

Green is back on his feet after the collison with Paintsil and the game gets back underway.

35

That really was an excellent stop from the former Norwich keeper, although it has come at a cost - it looks as if he got caught in the mouth at some point.

34

The resulting free kick is taken by Bullard and his low effort forces an excellent save from Robert Green who tips it round the post.

32

Zamora and Davies exchanges passes but the latter is brought down by Lucas Neill and it's a free kick to the home side.

31

Fulham have a good chance to get the ball into the box, but Simon Davies' free kick is awful and doesn't beat the first defender. What a waste.

30

After a Jimmy Bullard shot is deflected wide, the corner finds the head of Brede Hangeland who can't direct it goalwards. Perhaps he should have done better there.

29

At this stage, there is no doubt that Zamora and Johnson look far more threatening than Di Michele and Cole.

28

Di Michele tries to play in his strike partner Cole, but a lack of understanding between the two means they lose the ball.

26

A couple of half chances have come and gone for the home side so far and Hodgson may be slightly frustrated they haven't manage to take one.

24

Zamora's shot from 18 yards goes just wide of the right hand post. He is looking sharp today and will be keen to score against the club that sold him in the summer.

23

A burst forward from Matthew Etherington doesn't come to anything, but he is causing lots of problems on that left hand side. Paintsil is in for a busy afternoon.

22

Luckily for the away side llunga doesn't appear to be injured and is ok to continue. Johnson will have to be careful now though.

20
Yellow Card
 

Johnson is booked for an awful challenge on Herita Ilunga. He could count himself lucky for being on the pitch after that.

20

Things have settled down now with neither side testing the opposition keeper in the opening 20 minutes.

18

Even though West Ham have a poor record away from home in recent months - they have never lost a Premier League game at Craven Cottage.

17

Murhpy's long ball forward almost finds Zoltan Gera, but instead it finds a West Ham defender who clears the ball. Fulham look dangerous with their balls over the top.

16

Despite Fulham's decent start to this game, West Ham are looking confident and are being patient with their passing football.

15

Everytime Fulham go forward, they are aiming for Johnson. This time, he holds the ball up well before supplying Bullard who wastes a good opportunity to get a cross into the box.

14

Long range effort from Scott Parker goes over the bar without troubling Mark Schwarzer. Ambitious attempt from the former Chelsea man.

13

It's certainly not a dull start to the game - both sides have shown a positive attitude going forward. The first goal will be very important hough.

12

The ball falls to Cole in the box for West Ham but with a shooting opportunity at his mercy, he can't control it and Aaron Hughes makes a crucial challenge.

11

Roy Hodgson has made Fulham are very hard team to beat at Craven Cottage - today they are searching for their 4th consecutive home win.

9

This time it is Bobby Zamora who comes close for the home side as he heads wide from a Danny Murphy cross. They are on top at the moment.

7

Simon Davies has Fulham's first shot towards goal, but much like Cole's effort for West Ham - it misses the target. Good effort from the midfielder though.

6

Appeals for a penalty are waved away as Johnson goes down in the box under pressure from a West Ham defender - that would have been harsh on the visitors.

5

First attempt at goal sees David Di Michele find Carlton Cole who manages to fire high and wide from 20 yards.

4

One thing Zola will have to improve on is West Ham's away record - they have only picked up one point from the last 24 on the road.

3

There is no doubt that West Ham will look to play attractive football under new boss Gianfranco Zola - they are knocking it around nicely in the opening few minutes.

2

An early ball forward from John Paintsil looks for the run of Andrew Johnson but it is too powerful and Robert Green claims it.

1

Fulham have an excellent home record so far this season - they have won both games at Craven Cottage. West Ham on the other hand, have lost both matches away from home so far.

Kickoff
 

They are under way at Craven Cottage with both sides looking to bounce back from their Carling Cup exits against Championship opposition.