Fulham 1-2 West Ham: Hammers ride the storm

Published 00:00 28/09/08 By By Rory Smith

Somebody up there likes Gianfranco Zola.

On the day screen legend Paul Newman died, the Italian saw goals from Carlton Cole and Matty Etherington maintain his 100 per cent Premier League record as West Ham carried out a classic Craven Cottage sting.

His side were outplayed and outfought by Roy Hodgson's Fulham side, even though the hosts were reduced to 10 men after Andy Johnson was dismissed just before half time.

But Zola-in his thirdgame as a clubboss - may turn out to be the Premier League's version of The Hustler.

When he arrived at Upton Park, the Chelsea legend highlighted his inexperience - but he may have simply been lulling opponents into a false sense of security.

Andheinsists there is much, much more to come. He said: "We are going to get better. The players know what we are trying to do and they are responding well.

"Butwehaveonlybeen working with them for two weeks, so they will improve, especially because winning games like this will give them more confidence."

The Hammers were clearly second best for most of a fiery first half. In between the fouls, bookings and mass confrontations, Hodgson's side created chance after chance - but could not make any count.

Simon Davies flashed a volley wide and Bobby Zamora missed the target twice - first with a header from a Danny Murphy cross and then after he had latched on to a Davies through ball.

But Fulham were let down by calamity goalkeeping from the normally reliable Mark Schwarzer. First, Etherington escaped down the right and theAussie could onlypalmhis low cross straight to Cole, who crashed the ball home. Then the former Middlesbrough mandid hisbest impression of a cat on a hot tin roof, crazily rushing from his line to clear MarkNoble's through ball - but Etherington beat him to it and was left with the simple task of lifting the ball into an unguarded net.

Any hopes Fulham had of making a game of it disappeared when Johnson was sent off seconds before the interval for a second yellowcard offence, on Lucas Neill.

In truth, he was lucky to have lasted as long as he did after his first horrific challenge, which could have broken Herita Ilunga's leg.

But Hodgson refused to rule out an appeal. He said: "We feel it was a harsh decision because Neill actually caught Andy. Possibly he was being punished for the first one.

But that's not the way referees should work, is it?

"It was a very strange game.

I'm satisfied with a lot of the things we did but we threw it away in three minutes."

Fulham pulled a goal back through a Danny Murphy penalty that was given after Neill had handled.

Stat Attack at CRAVEN COTTAGE ATT: 23,946

MAN OF THE MATCH

MARK NOBLE

England boss Fabio Capello probably didn't come to watch the busy midfielder, but he is already West Ham's heartbeat. A worldclass ball for Etherington's winner capped a fine display.

MANAGERS

R HODGSON

Reshuffled well after losing Johnson.

Unlucky not to get a point.

G ZOLA

Lady luck smiled on the Sardinian as

Hammers got an undeserved win.

Possession

48% 52%

REFEREE A MARRINER

Right to send Johson off. 7

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