West Ham 3-2 Fulham: Potter wins first league match in charge

West Ham beat Fulham 3-2 in an entertaining match at the London Stadium as Graham Potter won his first league match in charge of the club.

The Hammers overcome a slow start to the game to lead 2-0 at half-time, with Carlos Soler took advantage of Andreas Pereira’s error before Tomas Soucek dispatched a second.

Alex Iwobi’s cross drifted into the corner to half the deficit after the break, but Potter’s side restored the two-goal advantage after another Fulham error, Lucas Paqueta netting when Danny Ings dispossessed Bernd Leno.

Another unorthodox Iwobi goal brought Fulham back into the game, but Marco Silva’s men could not find a third goal.

Victory means Potter, who replaced Julen Lopetegui as the Hammers’ boss last week, moves West Ham up to 12th, now just four points behind ninth-placed Fulham.

Tap, hold and load in 4K ⚒️ pic.twitter.com/PQDPl6rrhV

— West Ham United (@WestHam) January 14, 2025

Data Debrief: Fulham fizzling out

Fulham’s run at the European positions is in danger after a run of two wins in 10 league outings.

And Marco Silva will be particularly frustrated by the way his side have shot themselves in the foot in recent weeks.

The Cottagers have conceded at least twice in three straight league games and made two poor mistakes to gift West Ham goals at key times at the London Stadium.

Silva’s team won the xG battle 1.7-1.12 and had much the better of the shots tally, taking 21 to their hosts’ four.

That will mean little as the Hammers move closer to them in the middle of the table.