Football news - West Ham comeback win deepens Fulham’s relegation fears

Fulham remain eight points from safety in the Premier League after West Ham secured a comeback win at the London Stadium on Friday night.

Ryan Babel’s first Premier League goal in 3000 days came when he seized on a Pablo Zabaleta error to score after just four minutes, but the home side - who leapfrogged Everton to take ninth place - were not rattled.

The equaliser came when Javier Hernandez handballed to turn in Victor Obgonna’s flick on at the back post, and with five minutes of normal time left in the first half, Issa Diop converted from another corner to put them ahead.

In the second half, Fulham struggled to find a way through West Ham’s defence, who were happy to ride their luck while the home side’s attack struggled to find the rhythm of their strong first-half finish.

Michail Antonio eventually added a third in injury time to seal victory and leave Fulham facing almost certain relegation on 17 points.

The defeat leaves Fulham second from bottom with their chances of staying up fading ever quicker, and there is little hope for them now, while Manuel Pellegrini has recovered from n awful start to the season.

Should Hernandez’s goal have stood? It was a clear handball which surely would have been picked up were the Premier League using VAR now. That moment changed the complexion of the game and left a Fulham side, lacking in confidence, struggling to find their way back in the second half.

Robert Snodgrass (West Ham): Few senior players survive loan spells away from their club, but Snodgrass has re-established himself under Pellegrini. His set pieces were vital for the comeback and put them ahead, knocking the hope out of Fulham.

West Ham: Fabianksi 6, Zabaleta 6, Diop 7, Ogbonna 6, Cresswell 6, Rice 6, Noble 6, Snodgrass 7, Antonio 7, Anderson 6, Chicarito 7. Subs: Fredericks 6, Lanzini 7, Arnautovic 6.

Fulham: Rico 5, Odoi 5, Nordtveit 5, Ream 5, Bryan 5, Seri 6, Chambers 6, Babel 7, Cairney 7, Mitrovic 7, Sessegnon 6. Subs: Anguissa 6, Markovic 6.

4’ - GOAL! West Ham 0-1 Fulham. Babel scores - An error from Zabaleta allows Sessegnon to steal in, and he plays the ball into the Dutchman to put the home side ahead with a tap in.

29’ - GOAL! West Ham 1-1 Fulham. Hernandez scores - Rico tries to punch out a corner, and it is appalling. Antonio heads it onto Ogbonna, who flicks it on again, and Hernandez's head, or very possibly hand, pushes it into the neat.

40’ - GOAL! West Ham 2-1 Fulham. Diop scores - Hernandez wants a handball of his own as he flicks a ball against Nordveidt's arm, and the ref reasonably says it was fair enough of the defender. Snodgrass takes a corner on the right, swinging it in, and it's met by Diop, who beats the 'keeper to it for his first Premier League goal.

56’ - FABIANSKI SAVES - Mitrovic holds up the ball with two defenders lurking, and he lays it off to Babel and he lashes a shot at goal from outside the box, but Fabianski claims well.

78’ - ARNAUTOVIC HEADER - Markovic lays it off to Cairney, who finds Bryan. Ogbonna heads his cross out, and West Ham look for a counter. Lanzini finds Snodgrass, they swap more passes until Snodgrass picks out Arnautovic at the back post and he heads for Rico to dive and palm away.

90+1’ - GOAL! West Ham 3-1 Fulham. Antonio scores - Arnautovic gets the ball back after a Lanzini shot is blocked, he clips it in for Antonio, who thunders in a header into the corner and beats Rico.