West Ham United vs Fulham. Premier League.
London Stadium.
Highlights and report as Ademola Lookman misses last-minute penalty with terrible Panenka attempt; Tomas Soucek had scored minutes earlier for the Hammers; Premier League game had looked destined for a draw heading into injury time
Sunday 8 November 2020 07:01, UK
Ademola Lookman had a terrible attempted Panenka penalty saved in the last minute as Fulham slipped to a 1-0 defeat at West Ham.
The game came to life in injury time as Tomas Soucek fired home but Fulham were given a reprieve in their last attack when VAR awarded a spot-kick for a foul on Tom Cairney.
After Aleksandar Mitrovic had missed their previous penalty at Sheffield United, the responsibly was taken by Lookman but his weak, chipped penalty was read by Lukas Fabianski.
Lookman was inconsolable at the full-time whistle as his team put in a determined showing but left without any points.
David Moyes' men did create the better openings with Sebastien Haller and Aaron Cresswell hitting the crossbar but all-in-all it was a limp performance from the hosts.
Fulham had not won any of their last 16 London derbies in the Premier League, losing 15, so they had owed something to their fans watching on from home. However, it was the Hammers that started with all the bite and incisive play that should have yielded the opening goal.
Arthur Masuaku was denied at the back post by Alphonse Areola who then had to show his shot-stopping skills to deny a thunderous effort from Cresswell from hitting the net.
From the subsequent corner, Haller rose highest but his powerful header clipped the bar and to safety. It looked like it could be a long night for Fulham at that point, but they settled into the game with Cairney pulling the strings just behind Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Cairney flashed an effort across goal that had no takers on 18 minutes while Mitrovic couldn't take advantage of a free header at the back-post moments later.
Jarrod Bowen was the next player to fluff a headed chance, guiding his almost behind him from only about 10 yards after a good ball in from Cresswell.
Like the start of the first half, West Ham came out after the break with an increased tempo to their play and Cresswell curled a majestic free-kick from the edge of the box back off the crossbar.
Pablo Fornals scuffed a shot wide before Hammers boss Moyes turned to Said Benrahma from the bench for the final 25 minutes.
His impact was minimal though as Fulham enjoyed their best spell of the second period as Fabianski dealt with a Lookman shot, and moments later the Pole got down sharply to deny Bobby Decordova-Reid.
West Ham's spark was lacking but they got the all-important opener with the clock into injury-time as Benrahma rolled the ball into Soucek's path and he fired home.
Fulham threw caution to the wind in the closing minutes and Cairney drew a foul off Benrahma that was originally missed by referee Rob Jones but spotted by VAR.
Lookman stepped up but fluffed his lines in extraordinary fashion to let West Ham off the hook and leave his manager livid on the touchline.
Fulham manager Scott Parker:
"My emotions are one of disappointment, anger a little bit. He's a young player and when you are young you make mistakes. And you need to learn from them. That's where Ade is tonight.
"Anyone can miss a penalty but if you decide to take a penalty like that you need to hit the back of the net. He needs to understand that. He's been fantastic since he's been here - we'll see the character of him now as he'll need to dust himself down. He needs to learn.
"If you miss a penalty like that, you put yourself right on show. He understands that, he's disappointed more than anyone.
"He'll bounce back, he's an unbelievable character and professional."
Sky Sports' Lewis Jones:
After 92 minutes of mundane football, the injury-time in West Ham's clash with Fulham made up for it.
It was football at it's madcap best. Soucek looked to have stolen the points for West Ham but an overturned VAR penalty decision allowed Fulham one last kick to bag what would have been a deserved draw. Now, I don't need to spend time analysing or directing more attention towards the poor chap Lookman - he did wrong, he knows it.
But wasn't it a little strange that Mitrovic wasn't taking the penalty? Yes, he missed one at Sheffield United but Parker confirmed in his post-match press conference that the Serb striker was still the first-choice taker but was "injured" when it came to stepping up - with a hamstring problem to blame. Would an injury of that kind stop an Alan Shearer or a Harry Kane in the same situation? I'd think not. Perhaps Mitrovic scoring with just three of his last 77 shots in the Premier League had something more to do with it than a tight hammy.
West Ham return to action after the international break with a trip to Sheffield United on Sunday November 22, live on Sky Sports Premier League at 2pm. Fulham host Everton on Saturday November 21 at 3pm.
