Fulham v West Ham United

Published on: 14 December 2018

All 49 of Javier Hernandez's Premier League goals have come from inside the penalty area TEAM NEWS

Fulham will be without Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, who was sent off against Manchester United last weekend.

Defender Maxime Le Marchand is still injured but Calum Chambers, Floyd Ayite and Kevin McDonald are all fit and available.

West Ham midfielder Jack Wilshere will miss a third consecutive match due to an ankle problem.

Forward Lucas Perez is a doubt because of a cut foot, with Michail Antonio or Andy Carroll set to replace him.

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MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES

@SteveBowercomm: The meeting of West and East London brings together two Premier League-winning managers with very different short-term objectives.

Manuel Pellegrini has said it was his mentality to bring an attacking approach to West Ham, and recent results have provided evidence of that: three wins in a row, three goals in each of them - and without the likes of Marko Arnautovic and Manuel Lanzini.

New Fulham manager Claudio Ranieri has taken four points from his two home games so far but will have been working all week on their defensive shape.

Fulham's 40 goals conceded and no clean sheet all season will certainly offer the Hammers encouragement that their prolific streak can continue.

VIEW FROM THE DUGOUT

Fulham manager Claudio Ranieri: "The players are improving a lot with my tactics. It's normal they need time to understand everything.

"Sooner or later, we'll keep a clean sheet - I hope it's sooner rather than later."

West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini: "We are improving, without any doubt. The results say we are improving and scoring goals, which is not easy. It is not easy to win three games in a row and score three goals in each.

"It's a difficult game, as they always are in the Premier League, especially as Fulham are bottom of the table with a new manager whose career as a manager reflects what he is, especially winning the Premier League with Leicester - that is not something you can do so often."

LAWRO'S PREDICTION

Although West Ham will arrive on the back of a run of three straight wins, they are a team that can suffer a hiccup from time to time - and it would not surprise me if Fulham find a way of winning this one.

Prediction: 2-1

Lawro's full predictions v former France winger David Ginola

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

    Fulham have won on three of the last four occasions they have hosted West Ham. The sides last met in the 2013-14 season, with West Ham's 3-0 victory at Upton Park in November 2013 resulting in Fulham boss Martin Jol getting sacked. Fulham beat the Hammers 2-1 at Craven Cottage a month later - one of only four wins in 20 Premier League meetings.

Fulham

    Fulham have won just one of their last 13 Premier League matches (D3, L9). Eight of their nine Premier League points this season have been earned at Craven Cottage. Fulham are without a clean sheet in 20 Premier League games, conceding 51 goals since a 1-0 win against Norwich City in April 2014. They are one of only three Premier League clubs to have conceded 40 or more goals in the first 16 matches of the season - and the first since Sheffield Wednesday in 1999-2000. They have lost seven of their last eight Premier League London derbies (D1, L7), including all four this season. Their most recent derby victory was against West Ham at Craven Cottage on New Year's Day 2014.

West Ham United

    West Ham are aiming to win four league games in a row for the first time since February 2014. The Hammers have scored three times in their last three wins - they haven't done so in four consecutive top-flight matches since 1928. West Ham have won six of their 16 Premier League fixtures this campaign. Their seventh league victory last season didn't come until their 27th match. Javier Hernandez has scored three goals in his last three league games. His next goal will be his 50th Premier League goal, with all 49 so far coming from inside the penalty area. Manuel Pellegrini was Manchester City manager when they beat Fulham 4-2 at Craven Cottage and 5-0 at Etihad Stadium in 2013-14.

Source: bbc.com

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