LONDON : West Ham United fans expect new manager Graham Potter to bring some style back to their team's football after a dispiriting and brief Julen Lopetegui reign but the new coach was happy to win ugly against Fulham on Tuesday.
In Potter's first Premier League game in charge, West Ham were largely second best against Marco Silva's side but managed to win 3-2 thanks to being gifted two goals by their London rivals.
The former Brighton and Hove Albion and Chelsea manager looked relieved at the final whistle as West Ham hung on in the face of a Fulham siege to move to 12th in the standings.
Potter admitted it was "not perfect" but after the best part of two years since his last Premier League game, a morale-boosting win was the priority, stylish or not.
"It was probably not one for the purists but from our point of view we are delighted with the three points," Potter said.
"I think we started the game a little bit passive and credit to Fulham for being in the game well and we tried to get the crowd a little bit more involved."
West Ham were run ragged early on but were gifted their opening goal as Fulham's Andreas Pereira played a careless loose pass across his own area and Carlos Soler took full advantage to thump a shot past Bernd Leno.
Potter introduced Danny Ings off the bench in the second half and the substitution paid off as the forward closed down a dawdling Leno and the ball broke for Lucas Paqueta to score what turned out to be the winning goal.
"I didn't think we were going to win the game by playing nice football," Potter said. "It was about forcing an error and creating something out of nothing."
Alex Iwobi scored both of Fulham's goals to twice bring his side to within one goal of their hosts but their eight-match
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