West Ham United head to Fulham tonight in need of Premier League points. The Hammers are still two points from safety after a 5-2 loss to Liverpool on Saturday. Luckily for West Ham, other results went their way leaving the gap to Nottingham Forest in 17th, unchanged.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s team are under no illusion’s that every game is like a final if they want to secure top flight survival this season. The Hammers will look a tonight’s game as serious opportunity to secure a much needed three points to start March.
West Ham have improved in several areas over the past month, specifically on defence. Where the team desperately needs to improve, is taking their chances. After 20 shots against AFC Bournemouth and creating again against Liverpool, Nuno’s team are determined to make thing’s count tonight, with Fulham boss Marco Silva more than aware.
Marco Silva on West Ham’s “difference makers”
Speaking to Fulham’s official club website boss Silva stated he expected a totally different side from the last time they played West Ham. On that occasion, the Cottagers came away 1-0 winners thanks to a late Raul Jimenez goal, as the Mexican pounced on an Ollie Scarles mistake.
This time, the Hammers have changed a lot, and that start’s with personnel on the pitch, including the signings of Valentin Castellanos and Axel Disasi.
“They are in a completely different moment. Of course, they are not a completely different team, but I can see many differences there [from the December meeting],” Silva says.
“They signed some players, and they readjusted the squad a little bit last January, but you see the organisation is there. They have been very difficult to beat. Even in games that they lost, they played a big part. Even last game against Liverpool, you can feel [their improvement].
“[They signed new players] more in the frontline, but also with an experienced central defender. You can feel it, definitely. Many things are different.
“You can feel their organisation and confidence. It is not easy to be in the position they are in, playing with confidence. That is the reason why they have been able to get some points and have been difficult to beat.”
West Ham are “always creating moments”
It wasn’t just Castellanos and Disasi that Silva pinpointed as big changes at West Ham. Speaking about the Hammers performance at Anfield, the Fulham boss stated that the Irons continue to create, and that 5-2 does not tell the story of that game:
“If you analyse the game, the chances they created… Of course can see they conceded from three set-pieces in the first-half [but] they were always there creating moments, and you can feel they are in a different moment now compared to the Christmas period,” adds Silva.
“We understand their quality, their individual quality. They have top players who can decide the game. We respect the quality but we look to ourselves, the momentum is here with our team.”
