West Ham United’s attempt’s to stay in the Premier League continues as they head to Fulham on Wednesday night. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side fell to a 5-2 loss at Liverpool on Saturday, luckily for the Hammers result’s went their way, leaving them just two points from safety.
Marco Silva’s Fulham did West Ham a favour by beating Tottenham Hotspur 2-1, keeping Spurs from pulling away from the bottom three. The Cottagers have won their last two games, setting up a difficult test across London for the Irons.
Match Officials
Referee: Matt Donohue
Assistant Referees: Tim Wood and Wade Smith
Fourth Official: Ruebyn Ricardo
VAR: John Brooks
Assistant VAR: Alex Chilowicz
Matt Donohue will referee West Ham United’s clash with Fulham on Wednesday night. Donohue started refereeing age 14, working his way up to becoming full-time in 2014.
Progressing through the ranks, overseeing over 200 EFL games, including games in the Championship, League One and League Two playoffs. Donohue stepped up to the Premier League in May of 2024, overseeing Brentford’s 2-1 away win over AFC Bournemouth.
The referee has controlled four top flight games to date, with his most recent game being Brentford’s 3-0 win over Sunderland in January of this year. Whilst Donohue has never refereed a West Ham game but has been the fourth official at eight Hammers games and four as VAR, including the Iron’s 2-0 win over Burnley earlier in the season.
Tim Wood and Wade Smith will run the lines in this game. Both referee’s covered covered West Ham’s 0-0 draw with AFC Bournemouth and Brentford’s dramatic 4-3 win over Burnley at Turf Moor last weekend.
Wood was promoted to the Premier League’s group in 2020, and has run the line 142 top flight games since. Smith has been in the top group since 2021, assisting in 120 occasions in that time.
The fourth official will be Ruebyn Ricardo, who began officiating in 2013. Promoted to the Premier League group this season, he has been the fourth official at five previous West Ham games including the Hammers 3-1 win over Sunderland in January of this year.
VAR
John Brooks will be on VAR duty on Wednesday night. Brooks has been working in the Premier League since 2021, joining FIFA’s top list in 2023.
Brooks has served as VAR on several West Ham games to date, including the aforementioned 0-0 draw with Bournemouth two games ago.
Alex Chilowicz will join Brooks in the VAR booth, having served in West Ham’s loss to Manchester United at the end of last year.
