Graham Potter’s tenure at West Ham got off to a rocky start with a 2-1 loss against Aston Villa in the FA Cup on Friday. Now, his main focus is improving the team’s performance in the league. Unfortunately, he faces an injury crisis in the forward positions ahead of the upcoming match against Fulham, as Niclas Füllkrug, Michail Antonio, and Jarrod Bowen are all sidelined.
Despite the setback, the former Chelsea and Brighton manager expressed optimism after witnessing the team’s display at Villa Park. He may take comfort in West Ham’s impressive record in recent home head-to-head matches, with 8 wins, 3 draws, and only 1 loss. However, it’s worth noting that the solitary defeat occurred last season. It hasn’t been smooth sailing for West Ham in London derbies this season, as they suffered three-goal defeats in both league matches played at home. With three consecutive derbies on the horizon, it’s crucial for them to reverse this trend as soon as possible.

Fulham also participated in the FA Cup recently, comfortably defeating Watford, a team from the Championship, with a score of 4-1. This victory extended their unbeaten streak to nine games in all competitions, with three wins and six draws. In their last three Premier League matches, they have scored exactly two goals each time, resulting in one win and two draws. As a result, Marco Silva’s team should approach their upcoming match with confidence, aiming to solidify their position in the top half of the table.
This season, Fulham has only been defeated in away league matches by reigning champions Manchester City and Manchester United. They have managed three wins and four draws in such games. Impressively, they have lost fewer Premier League away matches than Liverpool, who have lost none. Additionally, it has been almost a year since Fulham last lost a London derby on the road. During this period, they have achieved three wins and two draws. This positive sequence began with their aforementioned 2-0 victory against the same opponent in April.

Players to keep an eye on: Lucas Paquetá found the back of the net for West Ham against Villa, marking his fourth goal of the season in all competitions. Notably, three of his goals have been the opening strikes for his team. Raúl Jiménez, in great form, has scored four goals in Fulham’s last three matches, with all three coming in the second half.

Impressive record: Graham Potter has yet to experience defeat in his inaugural home league game as manager of a new club, boasting two wins and two draws.