Graham Potter: West Ham have set a foundation after riding luck to beat Fulham
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Graham Potter admitted West Ham rode their luck as they secured a 3-2 victory over Fulham in his first home match in charge. Goals from Carlos Soler, Tomas Soucek and Lucas Paqueta made it a winning start in the Premier League for new boss Potter, who took over from the sacked Julen Lopetegui last week.
However, they were helped by some horrendous Fulham defending, with goalkeeper Bernd Leno in particular having a night to forget. They also let Alex Iwobi score twice with crosses which flew straight in, to maintain their average of conceding two goals a game this season, while Fulham hit the crossbar twice as well.
“I’m very happy with the result,” said Potter. “The performance was one of high effort, high togetherness, understanding we have to suffer at times. “It was far from perfect long term, but as a start point it’s a foundation. There’s lots to do, but a great start.”.
Fulham dominated the first 20 minutes, but West Ham’s fortunes changed on the half-hour mark thanks to an ill-judged pass across his own penalty area by Andreas Pereira. With Leno out of position, Soler calmly placed his first-time shot into the back of an empty net, and three minutes later Soucek swept home the second.
Six minutes into the second half Fulham pulled one back when Raul Jimenez went to prod in Iwobi’s cross. Although the Mexican did not get a touch, it was enough to put off Hammers keeper Lukasz Fabianski as the ball drifted into the net. Yet Fulham gifted a two-goal cushion back to West Ham when Leno, under pressure from substitute Danny Ings, played the ball straight to Paqueta who rolled it into an empty net.
