Great London derby at Craven Cottage?
Reigning Conference League winners West Ham United continued their strong run in the derby at Tottenham during the week and celebrated a 2-1 away win after trailing 1-0. The Hammers are now unbeaten in six games in all competitions (five wins, one draw). The team from London’s East End now face the next London derby
If you’ve been a neutral spectator in the Premier League recently and wanted to see goals, then Fulham were the place to be. A staggering 17 goals have been scored in the Cottagers’ last three Premier League games (eleven goals scored, six conceded), and they have scored at least three in all three matches. Fulham v West Ham is therefore hotly tipped to be another high-scoring London derby
In the Premier League, West Ham United have recently picked up a strong ten points out of a possible twelve, but have not conceded a goal in any of these four league games. In our opinion, the Cottagers, who have been so prolific scorers recently, should have a good chance of at least scoring in this London derby, after Fulham FC have lost five of their last London derbies at home without scoring (one draw).
As a result, the biggest value comes from the bet that both teams will score
Fulham – Statistics & current form
Fulham FC were relegated to the EFL Championship in the summer of 2014 after many years in the Premier League. This was followed by a few years in the elevator with two further relegations from England’s top division in 2019 and 2021.
The Cottagers are now back in the top flight for the second year in a row and finished in a respectable tenth place in the 2022/23 season under promotion coach Marco Silva. The club from west London, which is usually overshadowed by the other clubs in the capital but is in fact the oldest professional football club still active in the British capital, can build on the strong results of the previous season in the new season
Scored at least three goals three times in a row
The Cottagers have won two of their last three Premier League games (one defeat), although they could have done better in the away game at Liverpool FC. Fulham were leading 3-2 until the 87th minute of the game in the remarkable 4-3 defeat.
However, the west Londoners have been extremely accurate of late. During the week, Silva’s side dispatched Nottingham Forest 5-0 and celebrated their highest Premier League win since August 2012 (5-0 against Norwich). Now, for the first time since 1961, the Cottagers could score at least three goals of their own in four consecutive games in England’s top flight.
Winless in eleven London derbies in the Premier League
The eleven goals scored by Fulham FC in the last three league games are offset by six goals conceded, which clearly underlines our betting tip for a high-scoring London derby between Fulham and West Ham with goals on both sides.
Whether it will be enough for the Cottagers’ next victory remains to be seen. In any case, the fact is that Silva’s side have found derbies extremely difficult of late. Since a 2-1 win over Chelsea in January 2022, Fulham have gone 11 consecutive London derbies in the Premier League without a win (four draws, seven defeats).
Predicted Fulham line-up:
West Ham – Statistics & current form
West Ham United Football Club are arguably experiencing their strongest phase of the 21st century under David Moyes. Not only have the players from London’s East End repeatedly qualified for a European competition, but after reaching the Europa League semi-finals in 2021/22, they even won a European title at the end of the 2022/23 season – the UEFA Conference League.
As Conference League champions, they also made it back into the Europa League despite a slightly weaker performance in the Premier League. A draw at home to SC Freiburg next Thursday will be enough to secure top spot in the group and progress directly to the round of 16
PL away games on Sundays do not suit West Ham
A victory in the London derby would suit the Hammers just fine, but the bookmakers don’t believe in it. Overall, the odds favor the Irons in Fulham v West Ham, although they have not lost any of their last six Premier League games against the Cottagers (five wins, one draw).
It is possibly the poor away record on Sundays that has the bookmakers upset. The team from London’s East End have lost seven of their last nine Premier League away games on a Sunday (one win, one draw) – including the last four in a row.
No clean sheet in the last eight Premier League games
In addition, the Hammers are susceptible to conceding goals. This is evidenced not only by the fact that they have conceded at least one goal per game in each of their last eight Premier League matches, but also by the fact that they have already conceded 15 goals away from home in the 2023/24 season, which is only topped by six other teams.
However, there are also a few aspects in West Ham United’s favor. Firstly, the Irons’ injury list is pleasantly empty. David Moyes only has to do without Michail Antonio. And secondly, the Hammers have not lost any of their last six competitive matches (five wins, one draw) and are therefore in good form going into this game.
West Ham’s expected line-up:
Fulham – West Ham head-to-head comparison / H2H record
Head to head: 32 – 24 – 51
The two clubs have faced each other 107 times in the London derby and West Ham United lead the head-to-head with 51 wins. The Hammers took the full six points against the Cottagers last season and are currently unbeaten in six Premier League games against Fulham FC (five wins, one draw).
Fulham – West Ham betting tip
In principle, there are a few points in favor of the visitors. However, in the run-up to the derby between Fulham and West Ham, the betting odds of the bookmakers are not without reason in favor of the home side. With 15 goals conceded in eight Premier League away games, the Hammers have the seventh-weakest away defense at Craven Cottage. The Irons have also conceded at least one goal in each of their last eight Premier League games
In any case, there are too many contingencies involved in this London derby, so that a prediction on the three-way system for Fulham against West Ham is associated with too many risks. In view of the Cottagers’ many goal participations and the deficits of the Hammers’ defense, it makes all the more sense to bet on both teams scoring.
