Graham Potter Aims To Forge Strong Connection With West Ham Fans Ahead Of Fulham Match

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Graham Potter is eager to make a significant impact at West Ham as he prepares for his first Premier League match against Fulham at the London Stadium. His debut as head coach didn't go as planned, with West Ham exiting the FA Cup after a 2-1 loss to Aston Villa. Despite recent setbacks, Potter aims to build on positive aspects from that game and improve in the league.

West Ham has faced difficulties in their last two Premier League matches, suffering heavy defeats. A 4-1 loss to Manchester City marked the end of Julen Lopetegui's tenure. However, a win could see them climb to 12th place in the standings. Potter is focused on harnessing fan support and creating a team that resonates with supporters.

"I'm really excited for Tuesday night. The fans' support at Villa Park on Friday was brilliant," Potter stated. "The supporters have always been incredibly loyal, and behind the team. As an away manager, London Stadium is a tough place to come, so we need to build and utilise that connection between the crowd and the players."

Fulham currently holds ninth position after an impressive eight-match unbeaten streak in the Premier League. They recently defeated Watford in the FA Cup and have drawn six of their league games, including against Arsenal and Liverpool. Marco Silva is keen to maintain this momentum against West Ham.

"It's been a great run for us," Silva remarked. "We should have taken more points because we deserve it the way we have been playing in some of those games, but it's been really, really good."

Key Players to Watch

Mohammed Kudus will be crucial for West Ham due to Niclas Fullkrug's hamstring injury. In their match against Manchester City, Kudus had five shots and seven touches in the opposition box, completing all ten passes in the final third with perfect accuracy.

Raul Jimenez has been outstanding for Fulham this season, scoring eight Premier League goals—the most since his 2019-20 campaign tally of 17. Notably, he has scored more goals against West Ham than any other opponent.

Match Prediction: Draw

West Ham hasn't won any of their last three league encounters with Fulham (D1 L2). They are also winless in five London derbies (D2 L3), conceding heavily against Tottenham and Arsenal recently. Meanwhile, Fulham remains unbeaten in ten London derbies (W5 D5), their longest streak since 1938.

Fulham triumphed 2-0 at this venue last season, ending a long winless streak away to West Ham. They haven't secured consecutive away wins over West Ham since the late '70s.

The Opta win probability suggests a close contest: West Ham has a 34.6% chance of winning, while Fulham stands at 39.5%, with a draw predicted at 25.9%.