
Fulham 0-2 West Ham United
Saturday, 15th December 2018
by Staff Writer
West Ham recorded a fourth successive Premier League win for the first time in five years as Fulham became the latest victims of Manuel Pellegrini's resurgent side.
Goals from Robert Snodgrass and Michail Antonio sent United up to ninth in the Premier League table as hapless Fulham were comfortably beaten.Embed from Getty Images
However West Ham had goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski to thank for making a string of early saves as Fulham began the stronger, conjuring up 12 shots on goal to West Ham's three in the opening half.
The difference between the two teams, bar a clear gulf in quality was finishing - and when called upon, West Ham made sure they made the most of their chances.
It was Robert Snodgrass, currently enjoying a rich vein of form who opened the scoring against the run of play with just 17 minutes on the clock via a classic counter attack.
Mark Noble sent Felipe Anderson on his way with a 40-yard pass on the left flank, before the Brazilian pulled the ball back to the edge of the are where the Scottish winger was waiting to finish with aplomb, curling the ball expertly beyond Sergio Rico.
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And West Ham were 2-0 ahead before the half-hour mark when another move on the left culminated with another Anderson centre being flicked on by Javier Hernandez into the path of an unmarked Antonio, who simply had to steady himself before passing the ball between Rico's legs into an empty net.
Although both sides occasionally threatened to add to the score in the second half West Ham produced a thoroughly profesional performance to see out the game - allowing Fulham just three attempts on goal after the break.
The victory means West Ham go into the Christmas programme as one the Premier League's most in-form teams, with only league leaders Liverpool able to match United's sequence of four successive wins.
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West Ham Utd: Fabianski, Zabaleta, Diop, Balbuena, Masuaku, Snodgrass, Noble (Obiang 62), Rice, Anderson, Antonio (Diangana 85), Hernandez (Carroll 73).
Subs not used: Adrian, Cresswell, Ogbonna, Silva.
Goals: Snodgrass (17), Antonio (29).
Fulham: Rico, Odoi, Ream (Christie 46), Mawson, Bryan, Chambers, Seri (Johansen 61), Cairney, Kamara, Schurrle (Kebano 77), Mitrovic.
Subs not used: Bettinelli, Ayite, Vietto, Cisse.
Referee: Mike Dean.
Attendance: 24,081.




Player Ratings
Lucasz Fabianski
Michail Antonio

Arthur Masuaku

Issa Diop

Angelo Ogbonna

Declan Rice

Mark Noble

Felipe Anderson

Robert Snodgrass

Javier Hernandez

Marko Arnautovic

Substitutes
Lucas Perez(Replaced Arnautovic)

Andy Carroll
(Replaced Hernandez)

Grady Diangana
(Replaced Snodgrass)

Adrian San Miguel del Castillo
Did not play.

Pablo Zabaleta
Did not play.

Fabian Balbuena
Did not play.

Pedro Obiang
Did not play.

Match Facts
West Ham United: Lucasz Fabianski, Michail Antonio, Arthur Masuaku, Issa Diop, Angelo Ogbonna, Declan Rice, Mark Noble, Felipe Anderson, Robert Snodgrass, Javier Hernandez, Marko Arnautovic.Goals: Lucas Perez 49 Lucas Perez 54 Michail Antonio 61 .
Booked: None.
Sent off: None.
Fulham: .
Subs not used: .
Goals: .
Booked: .
Sent off: None.
Referee: Mike Dean.
Attendance: 24,081.
Man of the Match: Lucasz Fabianski.