West Ham United can move one point behind Fulham in the Premier League table by beating them at the London Stadium on Sunday.
The visitors have performed above expectations so far this season, but head into this London derby off the back of a demoralising 4-1 defeat at home to Newcastle United.
Match preview
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Having gained just four points from seven matches, West Ham recorded a much needed 2-0 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend.
Gianluca Scamacca bagged his first league goal for the club since moving from Sassuolo in the summer with a terrific strike from the edge of the area, before Jarrod Bowen finally broke his own Premier League duck for the season nine minutes into the second half to secure three points for his team.
Scamacca was at it again on Thursday evening, with the Italian coming off the bench to snatch a late winner away to Anderlecht, as the Hammers moved one victory away from wrapping up their progression to the Europa Conference League knockout stages.
With their forthcoming opponents Fulham likely to be missing their top goalscorer and talismanic presence in the form of Aleksandar Mitrovic due to an ankle injury, David Moyes will sense a real opportunity to put together back-to-back league wins for the first time this season, and edge closer to a league position more befitting of his side's level of ability in the process.
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Indeed, Mitrovic's withdrawal with a pre-existing ankle issue after just 34 minutes against his former club Newcastle last week certainly did not help Fulham's cause for gaining a positive result, although Nathaniel Chalobah's dismissal in just the eighth minute had already left them heavily in the lurch.
Callum Wilson almost immediately made the most of his side's numerical advantage by breaking the deadlock three minutes later, before Miguel Almiron's brace either side of half-time put the game beyond any doubt.
The Cottagers remain in the top half of the table heading into the weekend, though, which is a position Marco Silva certainly would have taken given the club's struggles in the Premier League following promotion from the Championship in recent seasons.
With home fixtures against the likes of Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Everton to come within the next few weeks, there is no reason why they cannot continue to go on a solid run and move themselves further away from danger in the process.
Team News
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West Ham will remain without central defender Nayef Aguerd, who is yet to make his debut for the club following his summer switch from Rennes, due to an ankle injury.
Fellow summer signing Maxwel Cornet was withdrawn during the first half of the Hammers' victory against Wolves last weekend, with the Ivory Coast international's thigh issue expected to keep him out until towards the end of the month.
Pablo Fornals is the most likely candidate to replace him on the left flank, with Moyes unlikely to make any other changes from the starting XI that performed solidly during the win, especially having rested the likes of Kurt Zouma, Aaron Cresswell and Tomas Soucek in midweek.
Fulham, meanwhile, are expected to travel without Mitrovic as part of their playing squad, with the ankle injury the Serbian picked up on international duty likely to be treated in a precautionary fashion now that it has flared up once again.
Former Tottenham Hotspur striker Carlos Vinicius, who joined the Cottagers from Benfica on deadline day, provides the most natural replacement as a focal point, although Bobby Reid could be used as a less physical option having played through the middle in the past.
Layvin Kurzawa came off with a knock against Newcastle and was replaced by central defender Issa Diop, who could start against his former club on Sunday, with Tim Ream shifting to left-back.
Antonee Robison, Kenny Tete, Manor Solomon and Willian are expected to remain sidelined through injury while Chalobah will miss out through suspension, but Joao Palhinha returns from his own one game ban and will replace the former Watford man at the base of the midfield.
Harry Wilson, who is yet to feature this season due to a knee injury, could be named among the substitutes.
West Ham United possible starting lineup:
Fabianski; Kehrer, Dawson, Zouma, Cresswell; Soucek, Rice; Bowen, Paqueta, Fornals; Scamacca
Fulham possible starting lineup:
Leno; Mbabu, Adarabioyo, Diop, Ream; Palhinha, Reed; Reid, Pereira, Kebano; Vinicius
We say: West Ham United 2-0 Fulham
Despite being the fresher team having not competed in midweek, we think the likely absence of Mitrovic could have a seriously negative impact on Fulham's chances of avoiding defeat.
West Ham appear to have some influential players finally hitting form, and we can see them securing a second successive home win on Sunday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Brett Curtis
