There's the first effort of the day. Jean Michael Seri has a punt from the edge of the area but it flies way over. The loud contingent of West Ham fans are singing I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles for the first time.

The wins for Crystal Palace and Newcastle earlier haven't exactly helped Fulham's cause. They really could do with a victory today.

Are the conditions having an impact early on here? The two goalkeepers belt goal kicks straight to each other without a touch from any outfield player.

Good start.

Here we go then. West Ham get us under way.

Image source, AFP

And now the players march out towards the halfway line. Claudio Ranieri walks out behind his team wrapped up in his big coat with hood up. It's that kinda night.

Image source, Reuters

The players are out in the tunnel. Mark Noble has a grumpy look on his face. I call it a tunnel but at Craven Cottage it's more just an area without a roof outside the changing rooms. The players are completely exposed.

Clappers - yes or no?

Alistair Bruce-Ball
BBC Radio 5 live commentator at Craven Cottage

Image source, .

Ten more sleeps until the big day and it’s all gone very festive at Fulham. A Christmas message on the clappers set out on everyone’s seat and the delightful harmony of carol singers as you approach the ground, determinedly getting through their set despite the torrential rain.

Glenn Murray
Brighton striker on BBC Radio 5 live

You never know how players will adapt. When West Ham looked at Felipe Anderson they might have thought he's a luxury player but he's proved everyone wrong. He's tracking back and making tackles.

When Fulham played in the Championship they were a very attacking team with the ball and they probably didn’t need to defend as much as they do now. They kept the same philosophy from last season and it hasn’t worked.

Image source, Getty Images

West Ham's recent form has been so good that the words 'top' and 'six' have been mentioned.

That's where manager Manuel Pellegrini wants his team to be aiming.

They have won all three of their games this month and have scored nine goals in the process.

The Hammers were bottom of the table after losing their first four games remember. How times change...

There are suggestions Ryan Sessegnon has a groin injury. We'll have to see what Claudio Ranieri has to say about the matter after this game.

Fulham are without Ryan Sessegnon for today's late kick-off. The England Under-21 international is not in the squad. More on that when we get it.

The Cottagers are also without Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa who is suspended after a red card last week.

Calum Chambers and Aboubakar Kamara are the players to come in.

Fulham: Rico, Odoi, Chambers, Mitrovic, Cairney, Ream, Schürrle, Bryan, Seri, Mawson, Kamara

Subs: Bettinelli, Kebano, Johansen, Ayite Vietto, Christie, Cisse.

West Ham make just the one change from last weekend's win over Crystal Palace.

Lucas Perez is out with a cut foot and is replaced by Michail Antonio.

West Ham: Fabianski, Balbuena, Zabaleta, Anderson, Snodgrass, Noble, Hernandez, Diop, Masuaku, Antonio, Rice

Subs: Adrian, Cresswell, Carroll, Obiang, Ogbonna, Silva, Diangana

The weather is rank at the Cottage. There looks to be a few flakes of snow mixed in with the persistent rain.

Alistair Bruce-Ball
BBC Radio 5 live commentator at Craven Cottage

Image source, .

Snoods, gloves and beanies the order of the day for Fulham’s players as they warm up in the freezing rain at Craven Cottage. I would suggest hot shower, cup of tea and mince pie after that.

Jermaine Jenas
Former England midfielder on Radio 5 live

Fulham have brought too many players in at once and the ones that have come in have massively unperformed. There has been chopping and changing of formation and the goalkeeper, that is not what got them up.

Claudio Ranieri will bring simplicity to the side and stick with it. In time you will start to see a move solid Fulham. He will watch the players in training and settle with his best back four, they are desperately crying out of that. The confidence is shot.

When we look at March, April and the relegation zone, we talk about teams not being able to score goals. But if Fulham scrape a clean sheet, they are one of the teams that can get out of it.

Fulham's form has been mixed since Claudio Ranieri took over.

They won their first game under the Italian, 3-2 at home to Southampton, but have since lost to Chelsea and Manchester United and drawn with Leicester.

Ranieri is yet to shore up that Fulham defence. They have conceded nine since his arrival and 40 goals in 16 games this season.

Image source, PA

Alistair Bruce-Ball
BBC Radio 5 live commentator at Craven Cottage

Image source, .

Craven Cottage is one of the most picturesque venues in English football but it’s not looking its finest today. The rain is teeming down and there’s a bitingly cold breeze but it won’t stop our enjoyment of what should be a cracking London derby.

West Ham can’t stop scoring at the moment, Fulham can’t keep the goals out but equally they’ve taken four points from their two home games under Claudio Ranieri. Saying that they have lost all four London derbies so far this season.

With football fans huddling for warmth up and down the country, tonight's late kick-off comes from Craven Cottage where the spectators will be hoping for a good game to raise the temperatures.

Fulham are in desperate need of a win. They start this game bottom of the table with just nine points from 16 games.

Today they host a West Ham side who are surging up the table after three consecutive wins.

What better early Christmas present than three points to move off the bottom of the Premier League table?

The in-form Hammers will have other ideas however...

Image source, Getty Images