Premier League: Fulham v West Ham match preview
A look ahead to the New Year’s Day fixture at Craven Cottage
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.When West Ham beat Fulham 3-0 in the reverse fixture earlier in the season, the Hammers would have been hopeful their fortunes would have changed in December.
While they overcame Tottenham at White Hart Lane for the second time this year as they qualified for the semi-final of the League Cup, Sam Allardyce’s side have not won a league game since – losing four and drawing two with the most recent coming on Saturday when West Brom pecked their host’s back after Kevin Nolan had given his side the lead midway through the second half.
For Fulham, the defeat at Upton Park spelled the end for Martin Jol with Rene Meulensteen taking over at the Cottage, and while they have fared better than their opponents in the final month of the year under the Dutchman, they still sit in the relegation zone one place above West Ham in 19th.
Meulensteen will be hoping a response from his side who were unable to build upon their win at Carrow Road on Boxing Day as they were thrashed 6-0 by Hull, a scoreline which put a huge dent in the goal difference of the team who have conceded the most goals (41) so far in the Premier League.
With only one place and point separating the pair at the half way point of the season, this adds spice to the London derby as both sides look to get their seasons back on track.
KICK-OFF: New Year's Day, 3:00pm
PAST THREE MEETINGS…
West Ham 3 (Diame, C.Cole, J.Cole) Fulham 0, Premier League, November 2013
Fulham 3 (Berbatov, Rodallega, O’Brien OG) West Ham 1 (Nolan), Premier League, January 2013
West Ham 3 (Nolan, Reid, Taylor) Fulham 0, Premier League, September 2012
STATS…
Fulham:
Fulham have concede the highest number of goals in the Premier League so far (41)
The Cottagers have lost nine of their last eleven matches in the Premier League.
West Ham:
West Ham have conceded three goals in each of their last three Premiere League matches.
Despite sitting in 19th, West Ham have the joint highest number of clean sheets along with Arsenal, Everton and Tottenham (8).
ODDS…
Fulham to win: 2.3
West Ham to win: 3.1
Draw: 3.3
TV: Highlights on BBC 1 at 10.50pm
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments