Fulham vs West Ham United. Premier League.
Craven CottageAttendance23,988.
Report and free match highlights from the Barclays Premier League match between Fulham and West Ham at Craven Cottage as goals from Raul Jimenez, Willian, Tosin Adarabioyo, Harry Wilson and Carlos Vinicius helped Marco Silva's side to their second 5-0 win in four days
Sunday 10 December 2023 23:59, UK
Fulham followed up their thumping midweek 5-0 win over Nottingham Forest by thrashing West Ham by the same scoreline at Craven Cottage on Sunday.
Marco Silva's men have now won their last three home games in succession, scoring 13 goals - the last 10 of which have come without reply.
Raul Jimenez headed the hosts in front after 22 minutes and it was 3-0 at the break thanks to a strike from Willian and Tosin Adarabioyo's header - his first goal since September 2022.
Second-half substitute Harry Wilson, however, scored the pick of the bunch, with his beautiful curling effort from 20 yards, and a late tap-in from Carlos Vinicius added the gloss on a marvellous afternoon for the Cottagers and a miserable one for their cross-city counterparts.
The win lifts Fulham to 10th, two points above west London rivals Chelsea and Brentford, while West Ham stay in ninth, three points further ahead, despite the end of their four-game unbeaten run.
With two in-form teams coming head-to-head in a London derby in SW6, the game had the potential to go one of two ways: a cagey encounter where chances came at a premium, or a runaway win either way. The first option was exactly how it began.
Then, midway through the first half, Fulham made the breakthrough. Jimenez's header was impressive and well-guided, but he might not have scored it had it not been for the ball of dreams delivered from the right by Joao Palhinha.
It was the fourth goal in five games for the Mexican, who had failed to score in his first 12 games in all competitions from the start of the season until November 12. That gave the hosts a huge lift and they smelled blood.
So it came as little surprise when the lead was doubled just past the half-hour. Alex Iwobi's shot was well-saved by Lukasz Fabianski, but the ball sprung free to Andreas Pereira, whose cross was missed by Iwobi and rolled home by Willian.
West Ham were barely able to break out of their own half and, when they did, their best chance was saved when Bernd Leno held Jarrod Bowen's shot on the turn. But it was, effectively, game over by the break anyway, with Adarabioyo climbing to head in Pereira's corner.
The three points were well and truly wrapped up, though, when Wilson took three touches to set himself after a ball over the top and floated an unstoppable trademark effort into the top left corner.
It was a case of damage limitation for the Hammers for the rest of the match, but they were not able to manage that either on a forgettable day all round. Vinicius completed the rout with two minutes of the 90 to play, slotting in after Wilson unselfishly squared to him, having controlled a long ball forward that ripped the Hammers defence to shreds.
Sky Sports' Dan Long at Craven Cottage:
The job was already done by the time the Welshman joined the action as Willian's replacement at the break, but he was instrumental in making sure the win was crushing, not just comprehensive, with a beautiful strike and an assist for Vinicius late on.
All 11 of Wilson's Premier League goals have been with his left foot (seven with Bournemouth, four with Fulham) - only Stuart Pearce (20/20), Bryan Mbeumo (20/20) and Dwight McNeil (16/16) have a higher 100 per cent left-foot ratio in the competition.
He now has two goals and three assists in his last four games, meaning his return to form will likely be important to Marco Silva over the festive period.
Fulham head coach Marco Silva:
"It was a brilliant performance from us. We were also the best team on the pitch, not just because we won 5-0, but because of the way we performed from the first minute. The players understood the plan so well and they executed it really well; the way we could punish them and take the ball from them and control the game on the ball almost for 95 minutes.
"It was almost the perfect afternoon for us. In the last 25 minutes we just tried to control the game and we lost some balls that gave them the chance to counter-attack, but apart from that, we gave them almost nothing. We controlled well and it is not easy to control a team like West Ham with the quality they have up front.
"I have no doubts about it [that win was better than the 5-0 win over Nottingham Forest]."
West Ham manager David Moyes:
"The first 20 minutes, we were fine. We let a terrible first goal in... and that changed the game because we were as much in the game as Fulham were at that time.
"I think it was the carry-over from the game [against Tottenham]; we used up too much energy in midweek. There's no excuse for the result, but it played a part. It was disappointing. We've had two difficult away games this week. Three points from the two games is not a bad result."
Fulham head north to face Newcastle on Saturday December 16, kick-off 3pm. They then visit Everton in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday December 19. Kick-off 7.45pm.
West Ham's place in the top two of Group A in the Europa League is confirmed and they will secure top spot if they avoid defeat at home to Freiburg on Thursday December 14. Kick-off 8pm.
David Moyes' side then feature on Super Sunday at home to Wolves on December 17, live on Sky Sports. Kick-off 2pm.
