Fulham got the job done but it was far from convincing. Álvaro Arbeloa’s ideas are still taking hold and his side will suffer if they do not improve in defence.
West Ham were beaten but far from cowed and will not mind refocusing on their promotion push. Fulham twice squandered leads against opponents riding high in the Championship and a penalty shootout beckoned before Premier League resources told during the dying stages. Arbeloa used his bench well and Oscar Bobb sent Fulham through to the last 16 of the Carabao Cup after a telling contribution from another substitute, Josh King.
Before kick-off there was a moving tribute to Ludek Miklosko, the much-loved former West Ham goalkeeper, who died at the age of 64 on Monday. It added emotion to the tie, ensuring the hosts were not short of motivation against the best side they have faced since last season’s relegation.
Although West Ham rested key players in attack – they play at Millwall on Saturday – they responded well after going behind in the 13th minute. They tested Fulham in the air and levelled when a deep delivery from Arne Engels found Konstantinos Mavropanos, who rose at the far post and headed across for his fellow defender Morato to nod in his first goal since joining from Nottingham Forest on loan this month.
Such a soft concession exposed the problems Fulham are having under Arbeloa. It was frustrating that the visitors failed to maintain control when César Palacios darted down the left before picking out Rodrigo Muniz, who headed in the opener after creeping between Mavropanos and Maximilian Kilman.
Fulham’s grip remained tentative. Arbeloa gambled by making nine changes, a risky move after calming the noise around his position with last Saturday’s draw at Liverpool. The lead was regained in style, Joachim Andersen’s pass from deep allowing Palacios to wander through a big gap and poke past Finlay Herrick, but Fulham were not resilient enough. They were lazy off the ball and were again pegged back when Benjamin Lecomte’s save from Mohamadou Kanté’s flick ran to Pablo, who was on hand to mark his 22nd appearance for West Ham by scoring his first goal since joining for £18.3m last January.
With the game in the balance Nuno delivered a statement of intent by introducing Jarrod Bowen and Manor Solomon early in the second half. Arbeloa needed his squad players to wake up. Kevin was making little impact on the left and Emile Smith Rowe looked disengaged as the No 10. Hugo Larsson at least tried to get on the ball after being handed his first start in midfield, but Fulham were in danger of drifting and Arbeloa’s irritation on the touchline was clear when one aimless pass floated behind.
Antonee Robinson injected some urgency on the hour, scampering inside and forcing Herrick to tip over. Yet West Ham were starting to believe. Solomon, once of Fulham, went close after Manuel Ángel lost a midfield battle shortly after coming on.
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It was surprising it took Arbeloa so long to bring on Bobb, King and Gonzalo García. The extra quality told, Fulham’s substitutes squeezing a tiring West Ham. The pressure grew and King was alert when Kanté dithered in a dangerous position. The Fulham youngster pressed to win possession, leaving Bobb to cut in from the right and drill a low shot past Herrick.
West Ham, top of the Championship after four consecutive wins in the league, chased another equaliser. Bowen shot over and Taty Castellanos, on for Pablo, had an effort cleared off the line. Fulham lived on the edge.