Raul Jimenez’s late winner punished a wasteful West Ham side, giving them a 1-0 win over Fulham at the London Stadium and deepening the Hammers’ relegation fears.
In the 85th minute, a mistake by West Ham’s left-back Ollie Skales proved costly, and Harry Wilson took advantage of a missed clearance to cross home for Jimenez to head home.
The 20-year-old was left in tears as the final whistle sounded due to his own mistake, but Hammers manager Nuno Espirito Santo backed the West Ham academy graduate in his post-match press conference, insisting: “We have our full trust and support.”
West Ham, who missed opportunities through Jarrod Bowen, Callum Wilson and Sungutu Magassa, suffered three consecutive defeats and extended their winless run to seven games, leaving them in 18th place with a five-point difference.
It was also West Ham’s 11th home defeat in the Premier League in 2025, making them the most home defeats in a calendar year in league history, matching 1967.
However, Fulham ended the 2025 season in style, with their first three league wins since January 2023 and their rise to the top half of the table.
Raul Jimenez celebrates Fulham’s win against West Ham
West Ham, who lost 2-1 at home to Manchester City at lunchtime, had a chance to move within two points of 17th-placed Nottingham Forest before kick-off.
But wasted finishing meant Nuno Espirito Santo’s side were unable to capitalize on Forest’s defeat, with Magassa failing to make contact with Crisencio Somerville’s deflected shot in the first half.
Bowen had the best chance in the 65th minute when he deflected wide from a Magassa counterattack, and substitute Wilson slotted a shot into the net five minutes later.
West Ham’s poor finishing and Scarless’ mistakes punished the visitors, and Jimenez’s header handed the home side their sixth consecutive London derby defeat this season.
Nuno: We were punished.
West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo said this in the post-match press conference.
“We felt the momentum was ours and we created the situation.
“I felt like we were getting close to finishing, but we got punished at the end and we didn’t have much time after that.
“What’s my biggest concern? How to win games. That’s what we think, what we want, that’s what we strive for, that’s what the players strive for.”
“We can talk for hours about every aspect, but basically, when we don’t score goals, in the situation we’re in, all the bad things happen to us.”
Callum Wilson misses one chance for West Ham in defeat
On tears after Olly Scurls’ failure: “We are all disappointed and sad, but we are united.
“We have full confidence and support in him. Mistakes are part of the game.
“It’s going to be a tough game today and tonight, but tomorrow will be another day and we’ll be playing again.”
Silva: Our ambition brought us victory.
Fulham manager Marco Silva said this in the post-match press conference.
“As we expected, it was a very close game.
“It was important for the home team to win this afternoon, but we showed our ambition.
“It looked like the game would be a draw, but the team showed their ambition to win.
“It’s very difficult to win three games in a row in the Premier League, so all the credit goes to the players.”
Jimenez came home late.
Analysis: Relegation is becoming a reality for the Hammers
“Say hello to QPR,” he said, mocking a Fulham fan who was celebrating West Ham’s plight.
Jimenez’s second-half winner only increased West Ham’s chances of a Championship visit to Loftus Road next season, with relegation becoming more of a reality.
West Ham have just 13 points from 18 Premier League games this season, their lowest at this stage of the league campaign since 2010/11, when they were relegated and finished bottom of the table.
This season’s numbers suggest relegation is a possibility. They are on a seven-game winless streak, haven’t kept a clean sheet since August and have lost seven of their nine league home games.
Olly Scurls burst into tears when he heard the final whistle.
Confidence in the Hammers was extremely low and it was reflected in their dismal performance against Fulham.
But it was Bowen’s second-half mistake that was most worrying for West Ham. Because if their ever-reliable talisman isn’t lit, they’re in real trouble.
“When we don’t score goals, in the situation we’re in, all bad things happen to us,” Nuno said.
And that was certainly the case on Saturday, as Scarless’ big miss gave Jimenez the nod.
The young man, who was impressive until that mistake, burst into tears the moment the final whistle rang.
But if West Ham’s situation continues like this come May, he won’t be the only one crying.
Opta fact: Hammers’ lowest record for PL points since 2010/11
West Ham have just 13 points from 18 Premier League games this season, their lowest at this stage of the league campaign since the 2010-11 season (13 games played), when they finished bottom of the Premier League. Fulham manager Marco Silva currently boasts more Premier League wins against West Ham United than any other opponent, with his seventh win (D1 L4) coming on Saturday. West Ham became the first team to lose six consecutive London derby games in the Premier League. Fulham in the 2018-19 season (10 losses). Fulham’s Raul Jimenez scored more goals against West Ham than any other Premier League opponent (seven) and scored Nuno Espirito Santo’s Wolves’ first away goal in the league since June 2020 against the Hammers. West Ham were caught offside seven times against Fulham, the most in a Premier League game since March 2016. Upton Park v Tottenham (also 7).
