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Fulham are there for the taking, and West Ham must keep focus

By Scott Johnson

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 08: Felipe Anderson of West Ham United celebrates after scoring his team's third goal with his team mates during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Crystal Palace at London Stadium on December 8, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 08: Felipe Anderson of West Ham United celebrates after scoring his team's third goal with his team mates during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Crystal Palace at London Stadium on December 8, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images) /
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West Ham are on a roll and have no intention in stopping now. Fulham in West London is the next opponent, and the Hammers should not be phased.

3 in a row and moving on up the Premier League. This is not supposed to be a strange feeling for West Ham fans, but it feels like an age since it last happened. Not since the last season at the Boleyn have things felt this settled around the club, and we certainly haven’t played this well since then.

Fulham, under the guidance of new manager Ranieri, are the next club in the Hammers’ way, and they’re not in good shape. Bottom of the league with 40 goals conceded, life is hard for the Premier League newcomers. And if Pellegrini’s men keep on playing the way they have for the past 3 games, the home fans at Craven Cottage are unlikely to be celebrating any points when the sides meet at the weekend.

When a side is in the relegation zone they can be underestimated. They might be playing tight football and not quite have the cutting edge. Or they may not quite be strong enough at the back in order to keep the big teams out. The problem for Fulham is that they don’t seem to be great at either.

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Fulham have a number of significant issues in their side, and I think you’ll see the boys in Claret and Blue exploiting them over the weekend. With Felipe Anderson and Snodgrass out wide, and Chicharito likely to start up front, the ‘Defending against attacks down the wings’ and ‘Defending against through ball attacks’ both being rated as ‘Very Weak’ it should be a productive day for the Hammers’ frontline. Add to that Fulham’s issue with defending against counter attacks and stopping chances being created and the Hammers are looking odds on to score 3+ goals for the fourth game in a row.

But it’s not just in attack that the Hammers have an advantage. Pellegrini has drilled the high line and offside trap into the side since the first day, and it has paid dividends in recent weeks. As Fulham struggle to keep onside in their play, that’s going to play into our back line’s defence as well. All in all, we should be looking at this game as one where if we play well we’re going to win. But there must not be any hint of complacency.

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What we have done particularly well in the past few matches is keep the intensity up throughout the match. There has been no let up from the attack and despite a few late goals there hasn’t been a particular drop off from the defence. Each match in the Premier League is a 90 minute challenge, and we need to remember that. Games aren’t going win themselves, but West Ham have a number advantages this weekend.