Dismal Fulham are crushed by West Ham

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West Ham 3 Fulham 0

Fulham slumped to a fifth consecutive defeat, increasing the pressure on boss Martin Jol.

Mo Diame’s goal shortly after the interval, aided by a defection off Whites defender Fernando Amorebieta, gave West Ham a deserved lead.

Carlton’s Cole’s close-range finish 12 minutes from time and Joe Cole’s 88th-minute strike sealed a convincing win for the east London side, who hit the woodwork twice.

Jol’s team were poor again and some of the away fans once more chanted for the Dutchman to be replaced.

Jol has been under pressure.
Jol has come under fire from fans

With both clubs’ managers needing a victory, the Hammers dominated the early stages and almost went ahead when Mark Noble’s right-wing free-kick was headed against the post by Modibo Maiga.

Fulham were also relieved to see James Collins’ header from Stewart Downing’s corner drift wide.

Adel Taarabt started in place of the absent Dimitar Berbatov and the visitors were again without Brede Hangeland.

Taarabt looked dangerous at times as Fulham threatened on the counter-attack, but Sam Allardyce’s side continued to have the upper hand and Downing brought a save from Maarten Stekelenburg with a fierce 25-yard strike.

Diame and Kevin Nolan then missed decent chances to put the hosts in front before the break.

However, Diame broke the deadlock less than two minutes into the second half

Scott Parker, playing against his former club, was dispossessed and Diame then nudged the ball away from Steve Sidwell, who should have done better, before trying his luck with a shot which struck Amorebieta, leaving Stekelenburg wrong-footed.

West Ham remained on top after the goal, with Stekelenburg denying Maiga and Downing firing over.

And they went close to doubling their lead when James Tomkins’ header from Matt Jarvis’ corner was cleared off the line by Darren Bent.

Pajtim Kasami dragging a shot wide was all Fulham could muster and West Ham went close again when Downing’s right-wing cross ended up hitting the top of the bar.

As Fulham struggled to get out of their own half, Ravel Morrison missed a great chance shortly after coming off the bench when he headed straight at Stekelenburg.

But Carlton Cole made no mistake, scoring with his first touch after coming on as a substitute to a hero’s welcome from the Upton Park crowd.

Downing got away from Kieran Richardson and the wide-man’s low cross set Cole up for a simple finish.

Joe Cole, also on as a substitute, added the third, shooting beyond the exposed Steklenburg and into the corner of the net after being teed up Morrison.

Fulham (4-4-1-1): Stekelenburg; Zverotic, Hughes, Amorebieta, Richardson (Dembele 83); Duff (Ruiz 60), Sidwell (Karagounis 77), Parker, Kasami; Taarabt; Bent.
Subs not used: Stockdale, Senderos, Kacaniklic, Boateng.

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