Premier League: Priceless Points on the Line in Festive Derby

West Ham United vs Fulham

A Premier League derby from the capital for Christmas anyone? Of course, that is not unusual in itself as London derbies are ten a penny with seven teams from the ‘big smoke’ making up the top flight.

But a festive fixture always has an extra fission and so I am expecting Premier League 2025 highlights when West Ham entertain Fulham on Saturday afternoon.

Talking Points

The truth is both sides could do with the points.

The Hammers were well beaten at Manchester City last weekend, although it was a contest in which they had chances.

Yet there is no doubt the lack of a prolific frontman has hampered them this term with one-time Bournemouth and Newcastle striker, Callum Wilson, a rare positive – even though some of the Hammers faithful were less than excited when former manager Graham Potter decided to sign him.

By contrast, one man who I thought would be a hit has proven to be anything but and it now appears German international Niclas Fulkrug will be heading to AC Milan on loan for the remainder of the campaign.

West Ham will host Fulham in their upcoming Premier League fixture — West Ham United manager Nuno Espírito Santo smiles after his side’s 3-1 victory over Newcastle United

Manager Nuno Santo replaced the sacked Potter in September but the side have failed to see any kind of new managerial bounce, winning just two games under the Portuguese and are now without victory in their past six in the league.

They remain 18th in the table, three points adrift of safety.

Optimistic fans can point to the fact that their team has actually been in the relegation zone at Christmas on five previous occasions but avoided the drop both times they were not bottom of the table – in 2006-07 and 2009-10 – on Christmas Day.

Scoring goals has also been a problem for the Cottagers, so they will have been mightily relieved to secure victory at home to Nottingham Forest on Monday night, thanks to a solitary Raul Jimenez penalty – the Mexican continuing his record as one of the top flight’s most accurate marksmen from 12 yards.

That secured back-to-back league wins for Marco Silva’s side as they climbed to 13th, pulling away further from the sides struggling at the bottom.

It was a victory made even more impressive by the fact that Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey and Samuel Chukwueze are away on international duty with Nigeria at the African Cup of Nations.

Silva is entering the final year of his contract with Fulham and, while the Portuguese manager has been cryptic about his future at Craven Cottage, fans will be hoping he will pen a new contract as he has been integral to their progress in recent years.

History

Two clubs from the capital with a reputation for playing good football, I automatically think of the 1975 FA Cup Final as their most prestigious meeting.

It was a game in which the Hammers triumphed 2-0 thanks to a second half double from Alan Taylor against a Cottagers side who were playing in the second tier and included former West Ham and England great Bobby Moore in their ranks.

That is one of 52 West Ham victories over the years compared to 34 Fulham triumphs and 25 draws.

Their inaugural clash came in December 1898, in the former Southern League Division Two, is recorded as a 2-1 West Ham success with B. Gresham and J. Reynolds the marksmen.

Their very first top flight game was at Craven Cottage in 1959 when the home side emerged 1-0 victors.

Fulham also won their first ever Premier League clash in 2001 as the French contingent of Sylvain Legwinski and Steed Malbranque scored the goals in a 2-0 win at Upton Park.

Although Fulham recorded a 3-0 FA Cup success there in 2004, that was the last time they beat West Ham on their own turf in the league which meant they had never won at the London Stadium (which the Hammers moved to in 2016).

That was until a league double two seasons ago.

In the corresponding fixture last term, Iwobi netted twice.

Yet that wasn’t enough as goals from Carlos Soler, Tomas Soucek and Lucas Paqueta sealed a 3-2 home win for West Ham.

The earlier season meeting at Craven Cottage had ended one apiece with Danny Ings equalising in stoppage time after Jimenez had fired Fulham in front midway through the first half.