Fulham 1-1 West Ham: Danny Ings' stoppage-time equaliser rescues a point for West Ham at Craven Cottage
Danny Ings scored a last-minute goal to earn West Ham a draw against Fulham, resulting in a 1-1 tie at Craven Cottage. This outcome left Marco Silva's team with only a point.
Fulham kicked off the 2024/25 season on a high note, and their strong performance in the first half reflected that. Emile Smith Rowe, Alex Iwobi, and Adama Traore all stood out and made a significant impact.
The fans at home believed a penalty should have been granted when Traore was knocked down by his old Wolves teammate Max Kilman. However, it didn't take long for the score to change, as Raul Jimenez found the net in the 25th minute.
Ex-referee Mike Dean discusses the penalty appeal involving Traore.
"It's not just a simple penalty; it was just a slight push from behind. Given the current standards, the VAR reviewed the situation, but it wasn't enough to change the initial call."
Smith Rowe did a great job of maintaining possession near the sideline before passing the ball back to Jimenez. Jimenez's presence in the starting lineup was unexpected, as he took the place of Rodrigo Muniz.
Fulham: Leno (6), Tete (7), Andersen (7), Bassey (7), Robinson (7), Lukic (6), Pereira (6), Traore (7), Smith Rowe (8), Iwobi (8), Jimenez (8).
Substitutes: Reed (not applicable), Berge (6), Cairney (6), Nelson (6), Muniz (6).
West Ham players received the following ratings: Areola (6), Wan-Bissaka (6), Mavropanos (6), Kilman (5), Emerson (6), Alvarez (6), Rodriguez (5), Soucek (5), Kudus (7), Bowen (7), and Antonio (5).
Substitutes: Soler (6), Coufal (6), Summerville (8), Paqueta (7), Ings (8).
Outstanding Player: Emile Smith Rowe
West Ham posed minimal danger during the first half, with an expected goals metric of merely 0.05. However, they showed signs of improvement in the second half after bringing on Lucas Paqueta and Crysencio Summerville.
The former was just moments away from heading a cross into the goal, and Jarrod Bowen also had a close-range shot that was stopped by Alphonse Areola.
A substitute player saved a point for the away team when Bowen passed the ball back to Ings, who had just entered the game in the 82nd minute. Ings managed to find a little space and sent the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
A goal scored almost at the very end of the match. The Hammers struggled for most of the game, but they managed to fight their way back into it thanks to their substitutions—kudos to Julen Lopetegui for that.
Silva: Referee Misses Penalty And Red Card
Manager Marco Silva of Fulham:
“I have no doubts. I didn’t have any on the field, and I still don’t. I could clearly see my teammate sprinting while someone was pushing from behind.”
The referee's position was excellent. While we need to respect the call made, it certainly had a significant effect on the outcome of the match.
"If it’s a foul deserving a penalty, he needs to be dismissed from the game. It’s an obvious penalty, so a red card is warranted. He failed to touch the ball."
Lopetegui: Ings Nearly Left The Club
West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui:
In the summer, it seemed like Danny Ings would be leaving, but he ended up staying. He serves as a great example of how important it is for players to be prepared for various situations throughout the season. There are many ups and downs in a season, and everyone has to be ready to step in when needed.
I'm really glad for him. He mentioned a potential opportunity, but he decided to stick around. He's doing a fantastic job.
Fulham Needs To Boost Goal-Scoring Ability
Sky Sports' Patrick Rowe:
Fulham controlled the game in the first half. It was exciting to see Alex Iwobi, Emile Smith Rowe, Andreas Pereira, and Adama Traore working together at times.
They effortlessly dominated their rivals before halftime and should have increased their lead after Raul Jimenez's early goal.
With 20 shots fired at goal, along with numerous instances where players chose not to take a chance against Alphonse Areola, it highlights their overwhelming control of the match.
The home team shouldn't have played defensively to protect their lead. By the time Danny Ings equalized, they should have been in a much more comfortable position.
This Fulham team creates plenty of opportunities and is enjoyable to watch. However, to turn that potential into actual points in the Premier League, they must become more clinical when finishing their chances.
"Summerville Excels As A Game-Changer"
Patrick Rowe from Sky Sports:
In the first half, West Ham struggled to make any progress, with Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus often appearing visibly frustrated.
Alterations were necessary, and that’s precisely what occurred. The influence of Lucas Paqueta, who was given a break after just coming back from international commitments on Friday as stated by his coach, along with Crysencio Summerville, cannot be overlooked.
In only his fourth match in the Premier League, the winger made an immediate impact. His enthusiasm and skill on the ball, along with his aggressive runs towards the opposition's defense, created difficulties for Fulham's backline—something they hadn’t experienced in this game before.
"With Kudus positioned on the right, Jarrod Bowen playing in the center, and the ex-Leeds player on the left, West Ham appeared more well-rounded and dangerous. The Dutch winger is likely to compete for a starting spot against Chelsea next weekend."
