Potter aiming to build West Ham team fans can identify with - Soccer News

[ad_1] Graham Potter is trying to make his mark on West Ham forward of his first Premier League sport in cost, with Fulham the guests on the London Stadium.

Potter’s bow as West Ham head coach didn't go to plan as his facet had been knocked out of the FA Cup after giving up a lead in a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa final Friday.

West Ham have misplaced their final two Premier League matches closely, with their 4-1 defeat to Manchester Metropolis spelling the top for Julen Lopetegui, however they may transfer as much as twelfth within the desk in the event that they get again to profitable methods.

Potter is eager to construct on the positives he noticed towards Villa and hit the bottom working within the top-flight.

“I’m actually excited for Tuesday evening. The followers’ assist at Villa Park on Friday was good,” Potter stated.

“The supporters have at all times been extremely loyal, and behind the group. As an away supervisor, London Stadium is a troublesome place to return, so we have to construct and utilise that connection between the group and the gamers.

“To do this we now have to discipline a group that the supporters can determine with and that they imagine and belief in. That connection is so essential, and although we’re on the early levels of it now, hopefully, we will construct it by means of good performances and outcomes.”

West Ham (A) awaits. #WHUFUL pic.twitter.com/Jd5C7NemHw

— Fulham Soccer Membership (@FulhamFC) January 13, 2025

Fulham sit ninth within the desk after an eight-match unbeaten run within the Premier League and in addition beat Watford within the FA Cup on Thursday.

They've drawn six of these matches, together with towards Arsenal and Liverpool, whereas additionally beating Chelsea, and Marco Silva is hoping to construct on their latest momentum.

“It’s been an incredible run for us. We must always have taken extra factors as a result of we deserve it the way in which we now have been taking part in in a few of these video games, but it surely’s been actually, actually good,” he stated.

“We confirmed the resilience, confirmed the standard, confirmed that we now have been in a position to be aggressive in any stadium on this nation towards any group, and we need to repeat that once more towards West Ham.

“The gamers, they're assured that they will do a superb job, and we collectively are a robust facet.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

West Ham – Mohammed Kudus

Potter confirmed Niclas Fullkrug is ready for a spell on the sidelines with a hamstring harm, that means the onus will fall to Mohammed Kudus to make one thing occur for West Ham.

Towards Manchester Metropolis, he had probably the most photographs (5), probably the most touches within the opposition field (seven), and accomplished all 10 of his passes within the ultimate third, probably the most of any West Ham participant with 100% such accuracy.

Remaining preparations for Fulham @Topps_UK Coaching Photographs pic.twitter.com/zE9cUTA6E5

— West Ham United (@WestHam) January 13, 2025

Fulham – Raul Jimenez

Raul Jimenez has scored eight Premier League targets this season, his most in a single marketing campaign since 2019-20 (17).

He has additionally netted extra targets towards West Ham than towards some other opponent within the competitors (six).

MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW

West Ham are winless of their final three Premier League conferences with Fulham (D1 L2), having gained 5 of their earlier six towards them earlier than this (D1).

The Hammers are additionally winless in 5 Premier League London derby matches (D2 L3), with their final two ending in 4-1 and 5-2 defeats towards Tottenham and Arsenal respectively – no group has ever shipped 4 or extra targets in three consecutive Premier League London derby matches earlier than.

Fulham, in the meantime, are unbeaten of their final 10 Premier League London derby matches (W5 D5) – it's their longest run with out a league defeat towards fellow London sides since a run of 12 between February 1936 and October 1938.

Fulham gained this actual fixture 2-0 final season, ending a 12-match winless away run towards West Ham within the Premier League (D4 L8). They haven't gained away on the Hammers in consecutive league campaigns since 1978-79 and 1979-80 within the second tier.

Solely Liverpool (15) and Arsenal (10) are on an extended present unbeaten run within the Premier League than Fulham (eight), although six of the Cottagers’ eight video games on this run have been attracts.