Fulham and West Ham United played out a nip and tuck 0-0 draw on Saturday afternoon.
Both sides had chances to grab the elusive goal which arguably would have sealed it but it was not to be.
Scott Parker made three changes from the side that lost to Leicester City on Wednesday in an attempt to freshen things up. Ivan Cavaleiro, Mario Lemina and Bobby De Cordova-Reid all returning to the starting XI for Fulham.
The changes had the desired effect and we started brightly. Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Ademola Lookman both having chances well blocked by scrambling defenders in the opening five minutes.
Despite the early half-chances the visitors started to work their way back into the encounter and settle into the match.
The rain began to pelt down on the half hour mark and conversely the clear cut chances dried up. It was the Hammers who looked more ominous, whipped crosses eluding attacking players in the box fractionally.
Thanks to some excellent defensive work from Fulham, we came close to opening the scoring in the 35th minute. After Michail Antonio had bulldozed his way to winning possession in the box, the in-form striker looked to lay it on a platter for a late arriving attacker. Harrison Reed read the cutback well and started the counter. After working the ball out to Caveleiro on the right wing, the Portuguese forward fed Lookman on the edge of the box. Without hesitation the young winger fired low and hard. His effort flew past the post and behind. Close.
A composed and even first half came to a close with Fulham enjoying large amounts of time in possession and patiently looking to carve an opening.
We started well again and in the 50th minute had a chance. A delightful ball over the back line from Joachim Andersen was met by a firm volley from De Cordova-Reid. The Jamaican’s effort was strong but fizzed over the bar.
We were at it again the 52nd minute. A through ball from Lookman into the path of Loftus-Cheek who had ghosted into the West Ham box was perfect. With Lukasz Fabianski rushing out to close the angle Ruben tried to chip the keeper but his effort went wide. More positive stuff from Fulham.
After an towering header from Vladimir Coufal thundered off the bar, the warning signs were there of how delicately poised this encounter was.
In the 71st minute it was our chance to threaten the opposition goal. A whipped corner from Lookman was inch perfect into the six yard box. Tosin was there but his header didn’t stay down and went agonisingly over the bar.
In the 78th minute as we pushed for a late winner it was Cavaleiro who had a golden opportunity to score. After some battling work down the right flank from Tete and De Cordova-Reid, the ball was cut back into the path of Ivan. Leaning back slightly on contact his effort went high over the bar. The gilt-edge chance we had been waiting for spurned.
With 10 minutes to go Parker rolled the dice and threw on Mitro and Josh Maja to see if they could pick the lock.
The urgency was all from us in the closing stages and with minutes going in regulation, Loftus-Cheek flashed inches wide after a neat lay-off from Mitro.
It proved to be the last chance of the game and we were forced to settle for a point. Bizarrely a controversial red card was shown to Tomáš Souček in the closing seconds following VAR for an elbow on Mitro.
Fulham: Areola; Tete, Andersen, Adarabioyo, Robinson (Maja 78'); Lemina (Mitrovic 78'), Reed; De Cordova-Reid (Anguissa 82'), Loftus-Cheek, Lookman; Cavaleiro
West Ham: Fabianksi; Coufal, Dawson, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Rice, Soucek; Benrahma (Yarmolenko 55'), Lingard, Bowen (Noble 55'); Antonio (Fredericks 73')
