Danny Ings scored in the 95th minute to rescue a point for West Ham against Fulham at Craven Cottage. Ings was introduced as a last throw of the dice by manager Julen Lopetegui in the 82nd minute as he saved the Hammers from a second consecutive defeat. Captain Jarrod Bowen did brilliantly to find the striker in the box in the final minutes and Ings needed one touch to set himself before firing beyond keeper Bernd Leno.
Fulham had taken the lead in the 24th minute through Raul Jimenez, who finished coolly from close range after a fine pass from Emile Smith Rowe. The goal came after a controversial decision by the referee, Tim Robinson, who waved away Fulham’s penalty appeals after Max Kilman brought down Adama Traore in the box. The Cottagers looked to have dominated the game for most of the match and they were left frustrated by the equaliser.
The Lopetegui era has got off to a stuttering start with one win, one draw and two defeats in his opening four Premier League games, but there are reasons to be optimistic. However, that last minute equaliser from Ings may feel like progress in some sense and the Hammers can take huge positives from the fighting spirit shown late on. The arrival of Lucas Paqueta and Crysencio Summerville added some attacking intensity before the Hammers eventually found a way past Leno. Bowen found space in the box but his bundled effort was met by the outstretched leg of Leno.
Marco Silva’s side are tidy in possession with the likes of Andreas Pereira and Alex Iwobi in midfield but Smith Rowe adds more of a cutting edge in the attacking third. He showed his intelligence when timing his run to perfection for Jimenez’s goal before finding the composure to lift his head on the touchline and pick out the run of his team-mate so he could slot beyond Alphonse Areola. Smith Rowe would have scored his second goal in Fulham colours but his powerful, goal bound effort could only strike Jimenez in the stomach.
The Fulham fans stood to applaud their new hero when he was substituted in the second half, they know they have a brilliant player on their hands. Fulham’s Raúl Jiménez has scored five Premier League goals against West Ham, his joint-best return against an opponent in the competition (also Everton and Southampton), with four of those five coming at home.
Fulham Dominant in First Half
The first half belonged to Fulham, and Adama Traoré had a couple of chances before the goal to open the scoring, and should have done better from an Alex Iwobi cross but headed harmlessly over. Jimenez was making his first league start of the season, chosen ahead of Rodrigo Muniz up front for Fulham, and his goal looked like being enough to take all three points.
Smith Rowe beat the offside line after a long pass from Andreas Pereira and raced to keep the ball in play before pulling a pass back into the six-yard box where Jiménez raced in to get ahead of his marker and slide his shot past the keeper. West Ham had failed to have a shot on target in the opening half and Fulham almost doubled their lead in the early moments of the second half when Pereira volleyed just wide from a Smith Rowe cross.
Lopetegui's Side Find Late Spark
On the hour mark West Ham finally tested Fulham’s keeper, but Bernd Leno was equal to the close range effort from Jarrod Bowen. With 10 minutes left to play Traore had another headed chance, but again couldn't keep his effort low enough to find the target and Fulham were made to pay for not putting the game beyond an unimpressive West Ham.
The game was into the fifth and final minute of added time when Bowen stretched to pull back a pass and Ings took a touch to make space before rifling a shot which beat the keeper at his near post. Fulham still had time for a winner, but Calvin Bassey headed wide from a floated free kick into the area and while they remain unbeaten in their last three league games, this will surely feel like two points dropped.
A Point Earned, But Concerns Remain For Both Sides
Despite the late equaliser, Lopetegui knows that his side will need to improve if they are to challenge for a place in the top half of the table. The Hammers are still struggling to create chances and they are looking particularly vulnerable at the back. The lack of a consistent goalscorer also remains a problem for Lopetegui.
Fulham will be disappointed to have dropped two points, but they can take heart from the performance of their new signing, Smith Rowe. He has made an immediate impact at Craven Cottage and he looks to have settled into his new surroundings. However, they will need to be more clinical in front of goal if they are to build on their positive start to the season.
Both sides will be looking for a more convincing performance in their next outing, but for now, they will have to settle for a point each.
