Fulham remain rock bottom after slipping to their fourth home Premier League defeat of the season.
The early signs were promising against the in-form Hammers, but missed chances, coupled with yet more suspect defending, consigned Claudio Ranieri to a first defeat at the Cottage since taking charge.
Fulham had their fans dreaming of an entirely different outcome by going close twice in rapid succession – Andre Schurrle firing over after a powerful run past Declan Rice, and Aboubakar Kamara having an effort stopped by Lukasz Fabianski after being put clean through by Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Yet it was the visitors who took the lead after 17 minutes – Robert Snodgrass curling in delightfully past Sergio Rico from inside the D, after Mark Noble’s angled pass out wide had allowed Felipe Anderson to get in behind Denis Odoi to make the telling cross.
The home side made more chances, with both Mitrovic and Kamara close to equalising with headers and the latter striking powerfully from distance to hurry the West Ham keeper into a low save.
But they were punished for failing to capitalise – Michail Antonio knocking in goal number two on 29 minutes after Javier Hernandez had nodded on a cross from the left by Anderson.
Schurrle ripped a curling effort just past the post in the moments before the break, but the Whites seldom suggested they would get back into it during a limp second half.
Fulham: Rico; Odoi, Mawson, Ream (Christie 45), Bryan; Chambers, Seri (Johansen 61); Schurrle (Kebano 77), Cairney, Kamara; Mitrovic.
Subs not used: Bettinelli, Ayite, Vietto, Cisse
This post was last modified on 16/12/2018