Fulham

Fulham boss Marco Silva, speaking to Match of the Day: "The players understood the plan. They executed it really well.

"The main thing is the three points. Keeping a second clean sheet in a row is important. To control a team like West Ham in the way we did was almost perfect, congratulations to the players.

On Raul Jimenez: "It wasn't easy to be the top player from the big injury he had. He was playing with a weight on his back, we never lost trust in him. He started well this season without scoring. We have to provide and we did it. Last Wednesday [against Nottingham Forest] was an important game for him."

On Tom Cairney's performance: "It is 300 Fulham appearances for him and he has been crucial. Firstly in training, but he made a huge impact in the way we want to build. He knows what I demand off the ball, but on it he'll always be crucial because he is a top player."

BBC Sport's Harry Poole

Prior to Sunday's match at Craven Cottage, you would need to go back to 1961 to see Fulham score three or more goals in four successive league games.

But, with a second 5-0 Premier League win in the space of five days, Marco Silva's free-scoring side achieved just that to rise into the top half of the table.

It is now 15 goals in four games for Fulham - producing three wins and only one loss after Liverpool pulled of that late fightback at Anfield.

That run has coincided with Raul Jimenez's welcome return to form in front of goal, the Mexico international netting for the fourth time in five Premier League games to begin Fulham's demolition of a poor West Ham.

Only a matter of weeks ago, with 10 goals in their opening 12 games, Fulham's shortcomings in attack appeared a real concern.

Now, with Jimenez firing and the likes of Willian, Alex Iwobi and Andreas Pereira thriving in support, Fulham are looking up instead of down as the halfway stage approaches.

• Fulham have scored at least three goals in four successive top-flight league games for just the third time in their history, previously doing so in October 1959 and October 1961.

• Only Nottingham Forest (13) and Wolves (12) have lost more Premier League away games in 2023 than West Ham (11), with the Hammers losing four of their last six away games (W2).

• David Moyes has now lost 238 games as a Premier League manager, the joint-most in the competition alongside Harry Redknapp.

• Fulham have won three successive home Premier League games in the same season for the first time since April 2011 under Mark Hughes.

• This was West Ham’s heaviest ever away defeat in a Premier League London derby, and their heaviest away Premier League defeat since a 5-0 loss to Newcastle United in January 2011.

• Raúl Jiménez has scored in successive Premier League games for the first time for Fulham, and for the first time in the competition since October 2020 for Wolves.

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.

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Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches again this season, against a variety of guests.

For this weekend's games, he takes on actor Dougray Scott, who stars in the new season of high-stakes drama Vigil.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

The goals are flooding in for Fulham now, and they have scored 11 in their past three games. I really wasn't expecting that from Marco Silva's side, who had managed only 10 in their previous 12 league matches this season.

West Ham surprised me too with their win at Tottenham on Thursday. The Hammers played well in the second half, although they did get a couple of lucky goals to turn things around.

This feels like it is going to be close. I am a big fan of what David Moyes has done at West Ham, but Fulham are flying at the moment so I am backing them to follow up their impressive victory over Nottingham Forest.

Dougray's prediction: 2-2

Read the rest of their predictions here

• Fulham are without a win in their past 11 London derbies in the Premier League (D4 L7) since a 2-1 win over Chelsea in January last season. At home, they have lost five of their past six league games against

  fellow London clubs (D1), failing to score in each such defeat.

• West Ham have won 16 Premier League matches against Fulham - they have only beaten Southampton (20) and Tottenham Hotspur more often in the competition.

• Fulham enjoyed a 5-0 Premier League win in their most recent game against Nottingham Forest, their biggest top-flight win since August 2012, a 5-0 win over Norwich. The Cottagers have won their past two at Craven

  Cottage, last winning three consecutively at this level between April and September 2012 (four in a row).

• West Ham’s David Moyes is unbeaten in his past 13 Premier League meetings with Fulham (W9 D4) spanning his time at Everton, Manchester United and the Hammers. In his managerial career in the competition, the

  Scot has only had longer unbeaten runs against Aston Villa (14 - 2011 to 2023) and Sunderland (15 - 2002 to 2012).

• Fulham striker Raul Jimenez has scored three goals in his past four Premier League appearances, as many as in his previous 47 games combined. The Mexican is looking to net in consecutive appearances for the first time since October 2020, when he did so for Wolves against Leeds and Newcastle.

Fulham manager Marco Silva has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League match against West Ham.

Here are the main headlines:

• Adama Traore and Rodrigo Muniz are "much closer" to fitness, and a decision will be made on the pair after Saturday's training session.

• Reflecting on Wednesday's win over Nottingham Forest, Silva said: "We were confident before the match. We were in a good moment and we're growing as a team. The best feeling from the game, apart from the three points, was the clean sheet. It shows we are solid as a team."

• On Raul Jimenez, Silva said: "He’s always a hard worker. He believes with hard work, good things will come. He got his reward for that. The players around him are pleased for him as well."

• On next opponents West Ham, Silva said: "Even if they are not controlling the game on the ball, they are not on the front foot, they can punish any team in this league. They don't need to really perform great, great, great, but if you are not on it every single moment of the game, they can punish you because they have the quality, they have a really experienced manager as well."

• Silva added: "They have the quality with Kudus, Bowen and all those players, the quality of Paqueta and Ward-Prowse behind them. They are always a threat."

• Silva gave an insight into what he expects from the match: "We are going to have the ball, and moments that we have the ball probably are the most dangerous moments for us, because we have to be really assertive, to be always in a good balance, because they are really a threat in that type of situation. They are solid enough, good set-pieces as well, with a great taker like Ward-Prowse. They are always a threat."

• Silva is confident his Fulham side will be difficult opposition for the Hammers, adding: "They know as well that it's going to be tough for them to come to Craven Cottage to play with us in the moment that we are in right now. I really believe that it's going to be a good game. Both teams trying to win the game. Let's hope we can be stronger than them."

Fulham have made Brazilian midfielder Andre, 22, of Fluminense their number one target should Portugal midfielder Joao Palhinha depart Craven Cottage in January. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is keen to sign Palhinha from Fulham which is likely to spell the end of 28-year-old Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey's time with the Gunners. (Mirror), external

Chelsea are set to reject any offers that come in for Albania striker Armando Broja, 22, in January with Fulham keen. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

Fulham striker Raul Jimenez spoke to BBC Radio London after scoring a double in Fulham's 5-0 win against Nottingham Forest: "It's really good for us to keep playing like this. We deserve a night like this as we've been playing really well in the last games. We showed what we can achieve if we stick together.

"I needed a night like this. To score in front of the fans is really good - twice is much better! I want to keep pushing, keep going, looking forward to more goals.

"It's [not scoring goals] tough, but I have a good mentality and I have my family behind me who are always supporting me. It's the most important thing that they are there for me.

"I think we are full of confidence after scoring 11 goals in the last three games. It's fantastic for us and I think we can achieve more. It's going to be tough on Sunday as they [West Ham] are also playing good. With a win in that game, we can start dreaming about being at the top."

Fulham boss Marco Silva to MOTD: "Delighted for everything we put on the pitch tonight. Great team performance, great result. Clean sheet - so so important for us. After the first goal we expressed ourselves, controlled the game on and off the ball really well. We didn't give almost anything for them to create.

"Really nice to see the way the players expressed themselves, the commitment, the attitude. Even winning 3-0, 4-0 they didn't stop - all the congratulations to them.

"It's really important to show we are growing and moving in the right direction."

On responding to the late defeat at Liverpool last weekend: "We wanted to react. We knew the feeling wasn't the best because the players deserved a lot more from the game but it's so good to see them again, coming strong to win this football match."

On Raul Jimenez: "Great goal from him. He shows what confidence can help a player to do. A lot of weight on his back the last ten months but after the Villa goal it was a relief for him. He's working so so hard to get better and the good things will come. "

Bobbie Jackson, BBC Sport

After a slow start to the season Fulham are finally firing on all cylinders.

Marco Silva may have been slightly concerned when his side stuttered through the opening weeks of the season, winning just two of their first seven games.

Things appear to have taken a turn for the better, though, with Wednesday's demolition of Nottingham Forest sealing their second victory in three outings, having suffered a respectable 4-3 loss at Liverpool during that sequence.

From an attacking sense, Silva's side are shining, scoring three or more goals in three successive top-flight games for the first time since 1966.

Fulham scored 10 goals in their opening 12 fixtures and they have struck 11 times across their last three.

It has to be factored in that Forest were poor but that shouldn't take anything away from Fulham's five-star showing.

Raul Jimenez has struggled to rediscover his goalscoring boots since suffering a sickening head injury in November 2020, but the Mexican showed shades of his former self when grabbing a double, including a cheeky back-heel.

Questions were raised when Silva let Aleksandar Mitrovic, last season's talisman, depart over the summer but Jimenez could prove to be the right man to fill those boots if he can build on a fine performance.

• Fulham have now scored three or more goals in three consecutive Premier League matches for the first time (3 v Wolves, 3 v Aston Villa & 5 v Nottingham Forest).

• Willian made his 300th Premier League appearance tonight, becoming the first Brazilian player to reach this landmark. The Fulham man marked this achievement by providing an assist, his first of the season.

• Raul Jimenez has now scored three goals in his in last four Premier League appearances, the same amount as he managed in his previous 47. His brace tonight was his third in the Premier League overall and his first since January 2020 (for Wolves v Southampton).

• Tonight’s 5-0 defeat was the 10th time that Nottingham Forest have conceded five or more goals in a single match in the Premier League.

• Fulham’s Alex Iwobi scored his first Premier League double tonight on what was his 234th appearance. He scored as many goals tonight as he did in the entirety of last season in the competition (2).

Nottingham Forest fans issued firm backing to manager Steve Cooper despite watching their side suffer a five-goal demolition by Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Alex Iwobi and Raul Jimenez each scored twice as Fulham netted three goals or more in three successive top-flight games for the first time since 1966.

Despite being well beaten and failing to register a single shot on target, Forest fans showed their support for under-fire Cooper as they roared the Welshman's name even after the fourth strike hit the back of the net, sending a clear message to owner Evangelos Marinakis in the stands.

Iwobi set the Cottagers on their way to victory after 30 minutes when he beat the offside trap to convert Willian's beautifully whipped cross, before Jimenez doubled the lead four minutes later by firing emphatically into the top right corner.

The Mexican forward showed strength and composure to grab his second and Fulham's third early in the second half, shrugging off Forest defender Ola Aina, rounding goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos and then dispatching a cheeky back-heel

Iwobi found was allowed far too much space in the box and met Harry Wilson's cross to score Fulham's fourth, and the scoring was rounded off by substitute Tom Cairney late on as Forest's defence was nowhere to be seen.

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There are six games being played in the Premier League on Wednesday and we will bring you every moment.

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Aston Villa v Manchester City - BBC Radio 5 Live

Manchester United v Chelsea - BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

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Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches again this season, against a variety of guests.

This week, he takes on CBeebies presenter Rhys Stephenson.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Fulham were unlucky to leave Anfield empty-handed on Sunday after being ahead so late on, and they looked much brighter up front. Maybe they have finally come to terms with Aleksandar Mitrovic's departure, because they have started to score goals again.

It is three defeats in a row now for Nottingham Forest and the noise around the future of their manager Steve Cooper won't go away until their results improve, no matter how unfair that seems.

These two teams are next to each other in the bottom half of the table, so you would expect this game to be close and I actually think they will end up sharing the points.

Rhys' prediction: 1-0

Read the rest of their predictions here

Bayern Munich will face competition from at least two Premier League clubs for 28-year-old Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha in January. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Want more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip column