Fulham 0 West Ham 1

A controversial late goal from Nolberto Solano left Fulham four points off safety in the relegation zone after their game against West Ham.

After Birmingham's draw against Arsenal earlier on in the day, Fulham knew that they needed to get a result from the game at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

There was a minute's applause before the game to remember the late Bobby Moore, who played for both teams, as it was the 15th anniversary of his death on Friday, and this seemed to fire up both sides for the match.

Fulham created the first real chance of the match, with Clint Dempsey's shot falling to Paul Konchesky whose strike was caught by Robert Green in the West Ham goal.

However, West Ham rallied and had plenty of chances in the first half, most of which fell to Carlton Cole.

First of all, his dipping shot was saved by Antti Niemi; then after breaking through on a West Ham counter attack, his shot was deflected wide by Konchesky; and finally his turn and shot from Julian Faubert's cross was just over Niemi's goal.

Fulham also created a number of chances, Brian McBride shot at August on his first start since rupturing his knee in August, and Dempsey volleyed a Paul Stalteri cross wide just before the interval.

Diomansy Kamara had the first chance of the first half when he found some space in the penalty area, but his shot was blocked by Anton Ferdinand, and despite the cries from the Fulham fans and players for handball, nothing was given.

Fulham started to crank up the pressure in an end-to-end game but Brede Hangeland headed just over after a corner and after breaking free from West Ham's defence, Dempsey's shot was straight at Green; and for West Ham, Carlton Cole headed straight at Niemi after a counter attack.

Fulham's best two chances fell to Jimmy Bullard and American debutant Eddie Johnson, with Robert Green making an excellent save to deny Bullard after he had escaped the West Ham defence, and Johnson fired over the bar from no more than 2 yards away from goal.

However, in the 87th minute, Nolberto Solano scored the winner for West Ham, when he beat Niemi to the ball to poke it into the Fulham goal.

This goal enraged Fulham, especially Leon Andreasen, as Solano's challenge on Niemi was studs up and it did appear that it was Solano's elbow that put the ball in the Fulham net.

Andreasen's complaints earned him a second yellow card from Howard Webb, although he did show the fight that Fulham will need to show if they will survive relegation, which looks a tough task with only 11 games to play.

Fulham: Niemi 6, Stalteri 7, HANGELAND 7, Hughes 6, Konchesky 6, Andreasen 7, Bullard 7, Murphy 6, Kamara 5, Dempsey 6 (Johnson 76, 5), McBride 6West Ham: Green 7, Neill 6, Ferdinand 7, Upson 6, McCartney 6, Faubert 7 (Solano 63, 7), Mullins 6, Noble 6, Ljungberg 6 (Spector 90, 6), COLE 7 (Ashton 80, 6), Boa Morte 5Man of the Match: Carlton Cole (West Ham)