West Ham 2-2 Fulham

By: Martin | October 5th, 2009

At least a point is a point, but after Zola’s trash talk during the week I was really expecting an all out trashing of the Cottagers. Alas, it was not to be and in the end it was a bit of mess.

Fulham started off the game lively considering that they had won only 3 out of the last 37 London derbys and early efforts by Kamara and Gera made every Hammers fan rather nervous that it would be four. But things looked up after ten minutes with future superstar Alessandro Diamanti just missing with a free kick. Five minutes later the possible onslaught began with Carlton Cole nodding in a super free kick from Diamanti. I really don’t think anyone else will take a free kick for the Hammers this year. Then minutes later the future superstar whipped in a cross that James Tomkins headed just wide.

Fulham ended up with ten men after South African, Kagisho Dikgacoi, was sent off on his debut. Dikgacoi was shown the red card when it looked like he pushed his hand into Scott Parker’s face when they were both being cautioned by the ref four minutes to the interval.

Going in at half time a goal up and a man up must have been pleasing for Zola, but it just put the fire under the Cottagers. Two minutes after the break Matthew Upson upends Diomansy Kamara in the penalty area and Danny Murphy scored from the spot.

Ten minutes later it was 2-1 to Fulham. Paul Konchesky’s corner found Zoltan Gera to shoot in from close range. After the goal Fulham sat back with the hope that the Hammer’s had no more fight, but numerous attempts on goal by Alessandro Diamanti and Carlton Cole showed that it might not be over. Zola brought on Junior Stanislas on for Zavon Hines after seventy minutes and it was that decision that brought results. As the match wound down, the Hammers continued to pepper the Fulham goal and in the second minute of added time, a long range shot from Stanislas took a wicked defection for an equalizer and total relief for Hammers fans everywhere.