Barclays Premier League

FULL TIME REPORT

Fulham came out 3-1 victors in a match they dominated for the most part. Seven minutes in and they were 1-0 up thanks to Dimitar Berbatov. They continued to create chances throughout the first half and Hugo Rodallega was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet. West Ham came out of the blocks quickest in the second period, scoring after just two minutes thanks to Kevin Nolan's alertness. Fulham regained the lead immediately though - Damien Duff crossed the ball and the Colombian rose highest to nod home. West Ham did come close to finding an equaliser through Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan but they just couldn't find a way past Mark Schwarzer. Mladen Petric then saw his effort deflected in off Joey O'Brien to put the game to bed. Full time and it's a thoroughly deserved victory for the Cottagers.

FULL TIME

The referee finally ends the game after six added minutes. A well-deserved victory for the home team.

INCREDIBLE

Mladen Petric has just gone on a run that puts Lionel Messi to shame. A cheeky chopstick between the legs and he's round the West Ham defender before dropping his shoulder to go round another two. His eventual shot is blocked.

GOOOAAALLL!!!

This game has just been put to bed. MLADEN PETRIC pounces on Hugo Rodallega's initial shot and the ball deflects in off Joey O'Brien. It was from the tightest of angles and the Croatian did really well to keep it in.

CLOSER

Kevin Nolan crosses the ball to Andy Carroll who flicks it on to James Tomkins who heads just wide when positioned well.

GOOD EFFORT

Route one stuff from Philippe Senderos as he hoofs the ball up-field to Hugo Rodallega who lets the ball bounce and out of nowhere he lets fly. He had two men around him and did excellently to get a shot off.

LET OFF

Sascha Riether carelessly misplaces a pass and Andy Carroll picks up the ball, only to smash it over the bar.

SHOULD FINISH

Fulham counter with Mladen Petric and they have four up in attack but the Croatian chooses to ignore them and go it alone. It proves a bad decision as his shot lacks any real power. That would have killed the game off.

ROW Z

Someone in the crowd will have a headache now if that shot has hit them. John Arne Riise comes inside into the box and with his left foot, unleashes a powerful drive which is always rising.

SUBSTITUTION

Dimitar Berbatov looks to have pulled his hamstring. He comes off and Mladen Petric is the man who replaces him.

SUBSTITUTION

Andy Carroll comes on to replace Joe Cole.

JUST WIDE

Dimitar Berbatov picks up the ball on the edge of the box and bends it around the post with the outside of his foot. That would have been a contender for goal of the season had it gone in.

HOW CLOSE CAN YOU COME?

Kevin Nolan shrugs off a challenge from Sascha Riether and his shot is a hair's width away from levelling the score once again. Replays show Mark Schwarzer gets the slightest of touches to divert it wide.

FIRST CORNER

The hosts take 69 minutes to win their first corner, and when it comes in, it's a poor one. Damien Duff sends it over the head of everyone and West Ham break.

SUBSTITUTION

Giorgos Karagounis' age is taking its toll now. He comes off to be replaced by Chris Baird, while Bryan Ruiz comes off so Ashkan Dejagah can enter the fray.

NEARLY COSTLY

Dimitar Berbatov dawdles on the edge of the box and gives the ball away to Kevin Nolan. He quickly moves the ball from under his feet and gets off a shot but it doesn't trouble Mark Schwarzer.

INCHES AWAY

Giorgos Karagounis launches the ball forward and Brede Hangeland sticks a foot out in hope of directing it towards goal but the giant centre back just fails to get a connection on it.

TRYING

A good move down the left allows Joe Cole to get to the byline and fire the ball across goal. Mark Schwarzer reads what the midfielder is going to do and collects the ball.

HITS THE WALL

Five players line up to take it but it's Bryan Ruiz who lets fly. His effort smacks into the wall and West Ham can counter.

FREE KICK

An untidy passage of play from West Ham sees them lose possession and out of anger, Mohamed Diame brings down Giorgos Karagounis. The hosts have a free kick in a hazardous position.

GREAT RESPONSE

Fulham haven't sat back after regaining the lead and they charge forward again through Rodallega, but his ball into John Arne Riise - who is screaming for the ball - is just overhit and West Ham get men back.

GOOOAAALLL!!!

I can barely keep up here! Fulham are back in front and it's HUGO RODALLEGA who powers a header past Jussi Jaaskelainen. It was a lovely ball in from Damien Duff.

GOOOAAALLL!!!

Fulham completely switch off from a set-piece and they pay the ultimate price. KEVIN NOLAN sneaks in behind Dimitar Berbatov and slots past Mark Schwarzer. Game on.

BACK UNDERWAY

The second half is up and running.

HALF TIME REPORT

Fulham went in at the break with a deserved lead thanks to birthday boy Dimitar Berbatov's header. Fulham looked dangerous throughout the half and came close again through Berbatov. West Ham did have an opportunity to draw level and should have - Kevin Nolan headed wide when brilliantly positioned. Fulham continued to create chances and Hugo Rodallega came close on a couple of occasions. Big Sam needs to imply a drastic change of tactics if his side are to dig their way back into the game.

HALF OVER

The referee blows his whistle and the first half is over.

SUPERB PLAY

Dimitar Berbatov could play West Ham on his own. He's on the half-way line and in one turn gets away from four bodies before brushing off a further two tackles. He lets fly from 25 yards and is no more than six inches wide - absolutely brilliant by the 32-year-old.

EAGER

West Ham come forward in what is a rare attack for the visitors. The ball finds its way to Joe Cole, somehow, and the ex-Chelsea man is in a great position to shoot before finding out he's moved too early and is offside.

PRECISE

Bryan Ruiz dinks over an exquisite ball after the attack looks to have fizzled out. Hugo Rodallega is just not quick enough and the West Ham 'keeper smothers the ball.

WAITING

It's all the home side and has been for a good ten minutes now, West Ham have hardly had a sniff. They're coming forward with real intent, but can't find a way past Jaaskelainen.

COMFORTABLE

A neat flick from Bryan Ruiz gives possession to Dimitar Berbatov who hammers the ball into the box, but it takes a deflection on the way. Hugo Rodallega challenges Jussi Jaaskelainen for the ball but the 'keeper grasps comfortably.

HANDBAGS

Steve Sidwell and Mohamed Diame get into a mini scrap after a mistimed challenge from the Fulham midfielder. Sidwell goes into Chris Foy's notebook for his protests.

SHOULD BE LEVEL

Kevin Nolan heads wide when he really should score. Mohamed Diame's cross finds West Ham's leading scorer who heads the ball against his knee and then watches it bounce out, much to his disappointment. Magnificent chance.

INACCURATE

Hugo Rodallega does well to get the ball out wide to Damien Duff who lashes across goal in what appears to be a cross-come-shot. The Cottagers are looking dangerous.

CHANCE

That said, West Ham have just had another good chance. Guy Demel gets down the wing and sends a cross deep towards Matthew Jarvis who heads over when under pressure.

LOOKING LIVELY

Dimitar Berbatov races onto a through ball but the offside flag is up early. He'd have been in on goal there. West Ham look exactly the opposite to what they did against QPR.

CHANCE

Joe Cole drops a shoulder to beat his man before delivering an incredible cross to the far post. Marouane Chamakh jumps up for it but is out-jumped by Sascha Riether.

GOOD CHANCE

Hugo Rodallega breaks forward with the ball and runs at Winston Reid. He tries his luck from range but his shot is always rising over Jussi Jaaskelainen's bar. It's all the home side at the moment.

WASTE

West Ham win a corner and the delivery from Joe Cole is great. However as the ball comes back out to Guy Demel, his poor accuracy means his return ball is way over the bar.

AMAZING

Berbatov very nearly turns provider after his goal. He dinks over a sublime ball to Hugo Rodallega but Jussi Jaaskelainen is quick off his line to thwart him.

GOOOAAALLL!!!

It's 1-0 to Fulham and it's the birthday boy, DIMITAR BERBATOV. A curled free kick looks to have evaded everyone but the Bulgarian is on hand at the far post to nod in.

SNAPSHOT

Giorgos Karagounis goes down but Chris Foy waves play on. Ruiz picks it up and smashes the ball goalwards on the turn. Jussi Jaaskelainen is alert to palm the ball away however - great effort.

COOL

A long ball down-field falls for Matthew Jarvis and he brings it down superbly to set himself away. He wins a corner but the set-piece comes to nothing.

GREAT ATTACK

Philippe Senderos loses the ball but luckily gets it back and surges forward. Possession falls to Bryan Ruiz who turns beautifully and plays in Dimitar Berbatov who gives him the ball back, but the Costa Rican's poor first touch results in a goal kick.

GOOD IDEA

Dimitar Berbatov loops the ball over Guy Demel to Damien Duff but the Irishman lacks pace and Demel gets back to clear.

AND WE'RE OFF

Fulham get the game underway and are kicking from left to right.

WEST HAM TEAM NEWS

The Hammers' new signing Emanuel Pogatetz also only makes the bench tonight. Full line-up: Jaaskelainen; Demel, Reid, Tomkins, O'Brien; Noble, Nolan, Diame, J Cole, Jarvis; Chamakh. Subs: Henderson, Pogatetz, O'Neil, Taylor, Carroll, C Cole, Vaz Te.

FULHAM TEAM NEWS

New signing Emmanuel Frimpong only makes the bench tonight. Full line-up: Schwarzer; Riether, Hangeland, Senderos, Riise; Duff, Karagounis, Sidwell; Rodallega, Ruiz, Berbatov. Subs: Etheridge , Baird, Hughes, Davies, Dejagah, Frimpong, Petric.

PREVIEW

It's 12th against 14th as West Ham travel to Fulham tonight. The away side will be hoping the weekend off has done their players the world of good while tonight's hosts fell at the feet of Manchester United in the FA Cup at the weekend – who coincidentally knocked out this evening's visitors in the earlier round.

BATTLE OF THE NEW SIGNINGS

Fulham could have new signing Emmanuel Frimpong in their 18 and will hope his strength will help them push forward while Hammers new boy Emanuel Pogatetz could play tonight in a bid to tighten up his new side's shaky defence.

GOALS GALORE?

Neither side has kept a clean sheet in their last six games so expect a 0-0 tonight. Excluding QPR, these two are the joint second worse in the league for goals scored in the last six games, both having netted a mere five.

HEAD TO HEAD

They may be in better form than West Ham, but Fulham have lost their last two league games against West Ham, conceding three goals in each game. Fulham have only ever beaten their opposition twice in 17 games in the Premier League.

MAN IN BLACK

Chris Foy takes charge tonight in what is his 23rd game of the season. The Lancashire-based official sparked a huge debate amongst the football world when he issued a red card to Chelsea's Eden Hazard for an apparent kick at a ballboy. And with Emanuel Pogatetz back in English football, Chris Foy could well be brandishing another red card tonight.