West Ham Edge Fulham 3-2 in Thrilling London Derby

West Ham United secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over Fulham in the London derby, ending the Cottagers' nine-match unbeaten run across all competitions.

Graham Potter secured his first Premier League victory as West Ham United manager, as the Hammers edged past Fulham 3-2 in a thrilling encounter. This win extends West Ham's impressive home record against Fulham, with the Cottagers having suffered 12 defeats in their last 13 visits to the London Stadium.

Fulham, boasting one of the best away records in the Premier League, began the match with confidence and flair. Within six minutes, Alex Iwobi set up Harry Wilson, who volleyed against the crossbar. However, despite this promising start, Marco Silva's side struggled to build momentum against a resilient West Ham defense. The Hammers' rearguard held firm, denying Fulham clear-cut opportunities and setting the stage for a dramatic turnaround.

The match's momentum shifted in the 27th minute, when Carlos Soler's free-kick was headed home by Max Kilman, only to be ruled out for offside. Undeterred, West Ham continued to press, and their persistence paid off soon after. Fulham's attempts to play out from the back were caught out by Andreas Pereira's ill-advised pass, which Soler pounced on. The Spanish midfielder wrongfooted the retreating Bernd Leno, slotting the ball into the net to give West Ham the lead.

West Ham United doubled their lead just two minutes after Carlos Soler's opener, courtesy of a well-executed counter-attack. The move culminated in a cross that found Aaron Wan-Bissaka at the back post, and the full-back showcased his vision by squaring the ball for Tomas Soucek to convert from close range. This swift counter left Fulham reeling, having conceded two goals from the only two shots they faced before the break.

Fulham's frustration was compounded when Raul Jimenez struck the woodwork for the second time in the match, just before halftime. However, the visitors managed to halve the deficit shortly after the restart, courtesy of Alex Iwobi's cross, which evaded everyone on its way into the net. This goal sparked hopes of a comeback, but Fulham's joy was short-lived.

The match took another dramatic turn when Danny Ings, who had just come off the bench, pressured Bernd Leno into a costly error in possession. This mistake allowed Lucas Paqueta to capitalize on the empty net, scoring his fifth goal of the season and restoring West Ham's two-goal lead. The goal highlighted Fulham's defensive vulnerabilities, which ultimately proved decisive in the outcome of the match.

Fulham manager Marco Silva was left fuming at another defensive blunder, but his team refused to give up. They reduced the deficit once again, this time through Alex Iwobi's cross, which was attacked by Harry Wilson. Although Wilson failed to make contact, the ball evaded all defenders and sailed past Lukasz Fabianski, breathing new life into the match.

West Ham's defense faced a stern test as Fulham pushed for an equalizer. However, it was Adama Traore who squandered a glorious opportunity, blazing wide from close range. This miss proved costly, as West Ham held on to secure a hard-fought victory. The win brings an end to Fulham's nine-match unbeaten run across all competitions and marks their first loss in an away London derby in the league in almost a year.

The defeat leaves Fulham off the European pace and only four points clear of West Ham. The loss will be a setback for Marco Silva's side, who had been on an impressive run. Meanwhile, West Ham's victory provides a much-needed boost, as they look to climb the table and challenge for European spots.