Paquetá kick-starts Potter era but Fulham almost spoil West Ham party | Premier League

It was just as West Ham envisioned it when they spent more than £100m last summer. Lucas Paquetá up front, two left-backs on the pitch at the end and the latest man sitting in the home stand at the London Stadium wondering if his new employers are always so confusing.

This was a game that West Ham did their best not to win, so much so that they even blocked two crosses from Alex Iwobi. Still, Graham Potter found the logic in the puzzle.

The West Ham manager came into his first Premier League game in charge of strikers and nevertheless found a way to win after punishing a series of dire Fulham mistakes with goals from Carlos Soler, Tomas Soucek and Paquetá.

Potter’s attacking options were limited by Niclas Fullkrug and Crysencio Summerville joining Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen on the injury list. He responded by thinking outside the box, naming a team without a recognized striker and using Lucas Paquetá as a false nine, and it took West Ham a while to adjust.

There was little energy, perhaps to be expected from a team so lacking in pace in almost every position, and Fulham accepted the invitation to press the pitch. West Ham, who are considering a loan move for RB Leipzig striker André Silva, were lucky to escape when Harry Wilson volleyed against the crossbar in the sixth minute.

It was the start of a frustrating period for Fulham. If anything, it seemed too easy for them. It was as if they were just waiting for the goal to come, but it is always a dangerous game to play.

So it showed as Fulham’s intensity dropped after 20 minutes of dominance and the mood began to change, greater dynamism from West Ham late on giving the home fans something to believe in.

A touch brighter made a huge difference. Facing a slightly more pressing press, Andreas Pereira was drawn to play a blind pass across his own area in the 31st minute. None of his teammates expected it, and with Bernd Leno out of his goal, Soler raced in from the left to punish Pereira’s carelessness by driving the loose ball into the empty net.

It was 2-0 before Fulham had a chance to compose themselves. Two minutes later, Paquetá, just as he embraced his goalkeeping role, made himself a nuisance when he challenged Joachim Andersen in the air. Fulham’s form had disappeared. Kudus took over and dribbled in from the right and the best move of the half developed. Spotted by Kudus, Soler stopped, looked up and sent a smart chip to Wan-Bissaka, who pulled the ball to Soucek to beat Leno with a rising finish.

Potter offered some restrained applause. Suddenly a double pivot of Edson Álvarez and Guido Rodríguez looked pretty smart. Soucek, who played as no. 10, had come up with one of his trademark scoring runs. Fulham’s response was limited to Raul Jiménez heading against the woodwork just before half-time.

Marco Silva must have ripped into his players at half-time. Fulham stirred at the start of the second half and had hope when Antonee Robinson ruled out Kudus in the 51st minute.

The left-back combined with Iwobi, whose teasing delivery caused confusion in the West Ham defence. Jiménez, seizing on indecisiveness, stuck out a leg and did enough without getting a touch to ensure the cross went beyond a distracted Lukasz Fabianski

Now the nerves set in. Fulham pushed for an equalizer and forced West Ham back. Potter responded with a change and Danny Ings came on for an unimpressed Kudus, who beat his place as he took his place on the bench.

It was an inspired move – so good, in fact, that it instantly sent Fulham back into disaster mode, Silva watching in disbelief as Leno struggled in possession, lost the ball to Ings and left Paquetá with another open goal.

It should have been enough, only for Fulham to score again when another Iwobi cross floated beyond Fabianski. West Ham weren’t going to do it the easy way. Fabianski quickly beat Jiménez.

Six minutes were added. Wan-Bissaka cleared off the line. Sasa Lukic and Adama Traoré missed glaring chances. Somehow West Ham held on.