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Crysencio Summerville will get the plaudits but one of his teammates was the true hero as West Ham beat Fulham 1-0 to give their survival hopes a major boost.
Flying Dutchman Crysencio Summerville scored his seventh goal in 10 games to seal a win which drew the Hammers level on points with Nottingham Forest in the safety of 17th.
In a tense match lacking quality in the final third at both ends, it was Summerville who made the difference for West Ham on 65 minutes.
The in-form Hammers winger pounced after Jarrod Bowen brilliantly dispossessed Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno as he ventured outside his box.
Summerville gets headlines but 10/10 Hermansen is West Ham’s real hero
Summerville showed great composure to send Sander Berge for a cup of tea at the Cottage on the edge of the box before curling home with his left foot.
West Ham have dropped 20 points from winning positions and that was evident as Nuno Espirito Santo’s side looked nervy in 10 minutes of added on time.
Who was your MOTM against Fulham and why? 🤔
Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images
But the Irons showed grit and steel as they held on – with one 10/10 star stealing the show.
Summerville played brilliantly again and was voted man of the match by TNT Sports pundit Robbie Savage.
The real man of the match, though, was the much criticised Mads Hermansen.
Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images
There were calls for Nuno to drop Hermansen after the 5-2 defeat at Liverpool.
The Portuguese stuck by the Dane, though, and West Ham were richly rewarded at Craven Cottage.
If this win helps keep West Ham in the Premier League it will come down to two or three key moments from Hermansen.
He made a superb save with an outstretched leg to deny Josh King right on the stroke of half-time to keep the scores level at the break.
Then in the second half, with Fulham threatening to score against the run of play, Hermansen pulled off a stunning one-handed save low to his left after a firm drive from inside the box by Timothy Castagne.
A big call from Nuno! What did you make of JC?!
Credit: Getty Images/Chris Brunskill/Fantasista
Not only did Hermansen make the save, he also pushed the ball away from goal and danger in the process. It will be up there for save of the month.
But if West Ham survive it could be the club’s save of the season.
With Fulham pushing for an equaliser late on Hermansen bravely came to the edge of his area to gather a high long ball forward and won a free-kick which effectively killed the game.
Hermansen’s two saves were the equivalent of goals, it really is as simple as that.
Nuno also deserves great credit.
He brought in Jean-Clair Todibo for Konstantinos Mavropanos and the Frenchman was excellent alongside the rock solid Axel Disasi.
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
Nuno also reacted to Callum Wilson’s struggling display by bringing on Soungoutou Magassa and pushing Taty Castellanos up as the lone striker.
Magassa helped protect the defence when Fulham launched their attacks and was crucial in breaking up the play and thwarting a number of potentially promising moves by Marco Silva’s side.
West Ham’s players stood and soaked up the adoration of the away end after the final whistle – and it was thoroughly deserved too.
Forest’s impressive 2-2 draw at Man City frustratingly keeps the Hammers in the relegation zone with nine games to go.
But the results pile the pressure on Spurs and Leeds – and that can only be a good thing for the run-in.
West Ham player ratings vs Fulham:
Hermansen: 10/10, Wan-Bissaka, 9/10, Todibo: 8/10, Disasi: 8/10, Diouf: 8/10, Soucek: 7.5/10, Fernandes: 8.5/10, Summerville: 9/10, Bowen: 8/10, Castellanos: 6/10, Wilson: 5/10.
Subs: Magassa: 8/10, Kante, Traore and Mavropanos: 6/10.
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