Last updated on .From the section Premier League
Fulham have won three consecutive Premier League home games for the first time 🔔 since 2012
Raul Jimenez continued his return to form with another goal as Fulham thrashed lacklustre West Ham to record their 🔔 second five-goal victory in five days at Craven Cottage.
The Mexico forward, who sustained a life-threatening skull fracture three years ago, 🔔 gave the hosts the lead when he headed in Joao Palhinha's cross for his fourth goal in five league games.
Marco 🔔 Silva's side were in total control by half-time after Willian added a second from Andreas Pereira's cut-back and Tosin Adarabioyo 🔔 out-jumped Kurt Zouma at a corner to head in the hosts' third.
Substitute Harry Wilson was denied by Lukasz Fabianski as 🔔 a dominant Fulham pressed on - but the West Ham goalkeeper stood no chance of denying the Wales international when 🔔 he curled a stunning left-footed shot into the top corner from the edge of the penalty area.
Carlos Vinicius then sealed 🔔 Fulham's second 5-0 win of the week, following Wednesday's demolition of Nottingham Forest, after Wilson unselfishly teed him up when 🔔 through on goal.
The thoroughly-deserved victory lifted Fulham into the top half of the table, three points behind ninth-placed West Ham 🔔 who missed the chance to climb into the Premier League's top six.
"It was a brilliant performance from us. The players 🔔 understood the plan and executed it so well. It was almost a perfect afternoon for us," said Silva.
"Confidence builds confidence 🔔 and the best example of this is Raul [Jimenez]," the Fulham manager added. "We are not really different now, we 🔔 changed and adjusted some things but the faith in our players was always there."
Jimenez and Fulham hit their stride
Jimenez has 🔔 struggled to rediscover his former level since he suffered that potentially career-ending head injury playing for Wolves against Arsenal in 🔔 November 2024.
But the goals are beginning to flow for the 32-year-old again - as they are for a Fulham side 🔔 whose shortcomings in attack appeared a major concern only a matter of weeks ago.
Jimenez's current run of four goals in 🔔 five Premier League games is as many as he managed in his previous 49 appearances in the competition.
But, having scored 🔔 twice in a Premier League game for the first time since January 2024 in the midweek thrashing of Forest, he 🔔 has now scored in consecutive appearances for the first time since October 2024.
And, crucially for Fulham, the club's £5m summer 🔔 signing is beginning to demonstrate he is capable of filling the void left by talisman Aleksandar Mitrovic's departure.
The Mexican's thumping 🔔 header after 22 minutes ignited Fulham, who had been second best in the opening stages - though James Ward-Prowse's superbly 🔔 hit free-kick from more than 30 yards out was Bernd Leno's only save of note.
West Ham, desperately lacking energy and 🔔 ideas, were subsequently blown away in the space of 18 minutes as Fulham treated their fans to another excellent home 🔔 performance.
A half-time substitute after the lively Willian picked up an injury which Silva will hope is not serious, Wilson hit 🔔 the best goal of Fulham's five-star showing before collecting Harrison Reed's ball over the top and allowing Vinicius to slot 🔔 in from close range.
The Cottagers scored just 10 goals in their opening 12 league games of the season. They now 🔔 have 15 in their past four and, after a slow start, are looking up the table.
Meanwhile, this was a day 🔔 to quickly forget for West Ham and David Moyes - just three days after the Hammers boss described his side's 🔔 comeback win over Tottenham as "one of the biggest wins" of his career.
A win could have moved the visitors level 🔔 with fifth-placed Tottenham, but with that opportunity missed they must now dust themselves down as they seek to clinch top 🔔 spot in their Europa League group when they host Freiburg on Thursday night.
"Probably the Tottenham game played a big part 🔔 in today. Mentally and physically we found it tough," Moyes said.
"We used up too much energy in midweek and we 🔔 weren't able to get ourselves back. [But there is] no excuse for the result," he added.
Player of the match Jiménez 🔔 Raúl Jiménez with an average of 8.11 Fulham Fulham Fulham
West Ham West Ham United West Ham United Fulham Avg Squad 🔔 number 7 Player name Jiménez Average rating 8.11 Squad number 8 Player name Wilson Average rating 7.92 Squad number 20 🔔 Player name Willian Average rating 7.79 Squad number 26 Player name João Palhinha Average rating 7.71 Squad number 30 Player 🔔 name Carlos Vinícius Average rating 7.70 Squad number 18 Player name Andreas Pereira Average rating 7.68 Squad number 10 Player 🔔 name Cairney Average rating 7.64 Squad number 6 Player name Reed Average rating 7.62 Squad number 22 Player name Iwobi 🔔 Average rating 7.61 Squad number 14 Player name De Cordova-Reid Average rating 7.55 Squad number 12 Player name Ballo-Touré Average 🔔 rating 7.40 Squad number 17 Player name Leno Average rating 7.36 Squad number 33 Player name Robinson Average rating 7.35 🔔 Squad number 3 Player name Bassey Average rating 7.33 Squad number 21 Player name Castagne Average rating 7.25 Squad number 🔔 4 Player name Tosin Average rating 7.25 West Ham United Avg Squad number 20 Player name Bowen Average rating 3.95 🔔 Squad number 14 Player name Kudus Average rating 3.94 Squad number 7 Player name Ward-Prowse Average rating 3.91 Squad number 🔔 28 Player name Soucek Average rating 3.71 Squad number 1 Player name Fabianski Average rating 3.66 Squad number 10 Player 🔔 name Lucas Paquetá Average rating 3.66 Squad number 5 Player name Coufal Average rating 3.55 Squad number 27 Player name 🔔 Aguerd Average rating 3.47 Squad number 45 Player name Mubama Average rating 3.46 Squad number 8 Player name Fornals Average 🔔 rating 3.39 Squad number 33 Player name Emerson Average rating 3.32 Squad number 4 Player name Zouma Average rating 3.30 🔔 Squad number 22 Player name Benrahma Average rating 3.18 Squad number 15 Player name Mavropanos Average rating 3.09 Squad number 🔔 3 Player name Cresswell Average rating 3.08 Squad number 21 Player name Ogbonna Average rating 2.89
