Fulham 0 West Ham 1: Harrison Reed own goal secures Hammers huge three points to relieve pressure on David Moyes
DAVID MOYES is dealing with the pressures of this relegation battle like a canoe to water.
West Ham’s social media team produced an own goal before a ball was even kicked in west London with a misjudged and ill-timed Twitter photoshop job.
Four Hammers players depicted in canoes on the Thames heading towards Craven Cottage, sparking all sorts of unwanted puns referencing their rudderless form and sinking season.
Three of the four names used were not named in the starting XI, while the leader of the imaginary paddle-pack Lucas Paqueta did not even make the squad through injury.
Yet their online blushes were spared via a real-life own goal – Harrison Reed diverting past teammate Bernd Leno in the 23rd minute to hand the visitors a crucial win.
You just cannot keep an old dog like Moyes down. The Scot turns 60 this month, not that you would have noticed as he continues to dodge, duck and dive away from the sack.
A 5-1 thrashing at the hands of Newcastle on Wednesday night once again had Moyes on the brink heading into another win-or-bust clash.
So far this campaign, when this squad’s backs are against the wall – and their manager’s job is on the line – they have usually delivered with three points.
In January against Everton, in February against Nottingham Forest and last weekend against Southampton.
Add Fulham to that list. Only their second away victory of the season – their last coming in August – and a second clean sheet in three games.
Fulham without Aleksandar Mitrovic are a completely different beast, lacking a punch and directness that saw them become outside favourites for a European spot.
After a fourth loss on the bounce, those faint dreams may be all but over, especially with top scorer Mitrovic banned for another six Premier League games.
Boss Marco Silva – sat high in Fulham’s shiny new stand serving the first of his own two-match touchline ban – spent the majority of the afternoon with his head in his hands.
With West Ham rising to 13th – three points clear of the drop with a game in hand – the onlooking Karren Brady and David Sullivan from the stands will sleep easier tonight.
The emphatically unsubtle Sullivan rocked up to the ground in his bright red Bentley, perhaps preparing to hand Moyes his P45 in the tunnel had the result not gone to plan before cruising away in style.
Instead, Moyes lives and fights on, still believing he is the man to guide the club out of the sudden choppy waters they find themselves in.
The West Ham fans remain divided on the matter, chanting: ‘You don’t know what you’re doing’ after Danny Ings was brought off on the hour mark.
It speaks volumes to the lack of impact Moyes’ £160m summer splurge has had on his team’s fortunes that none of those eight arrivals started this one.
Having conceded five against the Toon, three of the back four were ditched for experienced heads – Angelo Ogbonna, Aaron Cresswell and Vladimir Coufal getting the call-up.
In essence, Moyes went with an old school 4-4-2 with Michail Antonio and Ings leading the line together for the first time since the latter’s January arrival.
Fulham meanwhile saw the welcome return of Willian from suspension, and controlled possession with ease yet struggled to test Lukasz Fabianski.
Andreas Pereira saw a powerful volley blocked by Kurt Zouma, and West Ham’s rugged defence was soon rewarded as Jarrod Bowen nipped past Tim Ream before his low cross.
Reed just could not adjust his feet in time. Replays show the ball was accidentally handled in the build-up by Coufal, but VAR opted against stepping in.
Fulham did not respond effectively until the second half – Pereira taking aim from range to sting the gloves of Fabianski for the first time.
West Ham were more than happy to sit back and soak up the bombardment of their box, occasionally finding time and space for a counter.
Bowen slipped in Ings whose attempt to dink over an onrushing Leno was poorly executed. That spelled the end of Ings’ match to the anger of the away end.
Said Benrahma and Flynn Downes were introduced to add some energy, the exact thing Fulham were slowly losing as the minutes ticked by and the chances fizzled out.
With eight minutes remaining, that chance did come. Pereira through one-on-one, deciding to try and round Fabianski only for the veteran Pole to get a vital touch to the ball.
Amid the injury time onslaught, Maxwel Cornet somehow failed to make it 2-0 following Ream’s error at the back.
West Ham hung on, and against all odds, Moyes remains afloat.
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