Two goals in the space of three minutes gave the Hammers their first away win of the season at Craven Cottage this afternoon.
Carlton Cole and Matthew Etherington struck in the 43rd and 46th minute respectively to give the Hammers an unassailable lead in a lively encounter.Ten-man Fulham - who lost Andy Johnson for a second bookable offence shortly before the break - managed to score the only goal of the second half through Danny Murphy from the penalty spot.
The Hammers were first out of the blocks and Carlton Cole had the game's first chance on four minutes - an effort which he could only fire over the bar. Fulham responded with efforts from Simon Davies and former Hammer Bobby Zamora whilst Cole continued to get into good positions for the Hammers without any reward.
The game's first major incident came on 20 minutes when Andy Johnson was booked for a horrible 'studs up' tackle on Herita Ilunga. West Ham's players were incensed and TV replays confirmed that Johnson was very lucky not to receive a straight red.
Referee Andre Marriner then incensed the Hammers further by awarding two controversial free kicks on the edge of United's penalty box; fortunately Jimmy Bullard was unable to find the net with either although it took a good save from Rob Green to turn Bullard's second effort round the post.
Fulham could - and probably should - have been down to nine men on 39 minutes when Paul Konchesky sliced Matthew Etherington in half with a wild lunge that was again sympathetically viewed by the referee, who deemed a yellow card sufficient punishment. Etherington, down for a good two minutes - and subsequently heckled by the home fans - responded by getting up to supply the cross which put United in front on 43 minutes.
The fleet-footed winger, freed on the left raced towards the Fulham byeline before delivering a cross which was fumbled by Mark Schwarzer. The former Middlesbrough keeper could only lie and watch as Cole grabbed the chance to open the scoring by blasting home from just five yards.
Clearly fired-up by the Konchesky incident, Etherington then raced through on to a Mark Noble through ball to make it 2-0 just three minutes later. The winger cleverly lifted his effort over the onrushing 'keeper who once again made an error of judgement by coming out when cover was available.
With four minutes of injury time added on the Hammers were content, at that point, to hold on to their two goal advantage. But Fulham found themselves even further up against it when they lost Andy Johnson for yet another reckless challenge; this time on Lucas Neill. Justice had been done, albeit nearly half-an-hour too late.
Zola's side once again started the brighter and this time Mark Noble was first to register an effort on goal when his effort took a deflection to safety four minutes in. Julien Faubert then nearly made it 3-0 when his dipping cross-come-shot grazed the top of Schwarzr's crossbar.
The Hammers continued to pile on the pressure and Herita Ilunga nearly opened his account for the club on 52 minutes when his fizzing half volley was brilliantly tipped wide by Schwarzer. But it was Fulham who scored next, when against the run of play Lucas Neill was adjudged to have raised his arm to a goalbound effort.
Referee Andre Marriner, who gave the Hammers very little all afternoon predictably raised his arm to signal a spot kick - one which Danny Murphy chipped into Robert Green's left hand corner to make it 2-1 with half-an-hour to play.
The goal gave the home side added impetus and Fulham's midfield general Jimmy Bullard began to influence the game more and more. As the game began to open up Bullard began firing shots from all angles - but he was either innacurate or outfoxed by Rob Green, standing firm in the Hammers goal in front of the watching Fabio Capello who has seen nearly all of United's run-outs this season.
With the Cottagers pushing on in search of an unlikely equaliser gaps at the back were inevitable and the Hammers began to capitalise on them with a stream of acute counter-attacks. On 66 minutes the excellent Ilunga found Carlton Cole on the edge of the six yard box but the tall striker couldn't find the target with his glancing effort.
Julien Faubert then saw a fizzing drive fly well over the bar and the less said about David Di Michele's attempted lob, the better. That was to be the veteran striker's last imput of the game and he was replaced by Craig Bellamy - a welcome sight given the recent news of Dean Ashton's lengthy lay-off.
The Welsh striker was immediately involved and his cross from another counter attack saw Cole fire inches over when he should have scored. You just knew it wasn't to be Cole's day when his effort from just six yards - yet again splendidly set up by Bellamy - was blocked on the line to deny the busy forward a second goal.
Meanwhile Fulham continued to push forward equally happy, it seemed, to lose 3 or 4-1 as 2-1. Bobby Zamora reminded United fans just why he was so frustrating to watch when his header from a Bullard (who else?) cross missed the target by inches, whilst Zoltan Gera failed to trouble Rob Green with a dipping effort from some 25 yards. Zamora should have done better once again when he was found inside the box by another former Hammer, John Paintsil, but he could only fire high and wide shooting on the turn.
Chances continued to come thick and fast at both ends and Fulham were somewhat fortuitous - again - not to go further behind on 81 minutes when Craig Bellamy was unlucky to see his close range effort blocked on the line - although he had no excuses for the resulting effort which he completely mishit when faced by an open goal.
With time ticking away Jimmy Bullard once again began to drive the home side forward. The midfielder saw one shot clear Rob Green's goal by a couple of feet before delivering a great cross into the danger zone which no other Fulham player was alert enough to take advamntage of.
With the alloted two minutes injury time gone Bullard still had time to fashion two final chances. It would have been an injustice had either gone in but fortunately for the Hammers neither did and Andre Marriner eventually blew the final whistle having played five minutes of injury time.
The win lifts the Hammers up to fifth in the table. We'll have more news from the game later tonight.
Match Stats
West Ham United: Green, Faubert, Neill, Upson, Ilunga, Parker (Boa Morte 90), Noble, Behrami, Etherington (Mullins 80), Cole, Di Michele (Bellamy 74).
Subs not used: Lastuvka, Lopez, Davenport, Sears.
Goals: Cole (43), Etherington (45+1).
Booked: Parker (68).
Fulham: Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Gera, Murphy, Bullard, Davies, Johnson, Zamora.
Subs not used: Zuberbuhler, Ki-Hyeon, Nevland, Dempsey, Andreasen, Kallio, Baird.
Booked: Johnson (20), Konchesky (39), Murphy (45+2), Hangeland (88).
Sent Off: Johnson (45+4).
Goals: Murphy (pen 59).
Attendance: 23,946
Referee: Andre Marriner
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