The Hammers are looking for their third win on the trot when they take on Fulham on Saturday.

He was the King of Craven Cottage, leading an unfancied, unfashionable team to a European final and even being mentioned in dispatches for the England job.

But his move to Liverpool has turned him into a supposedly terrible manager again, while Mark Hughes is left to take over the steady reins at Fulham.

So far, he has done a decent, though unspectacular job.

Fulham are unbeaten in the Premier League this season, but that statistic is a litte deceptive as they have drawn five of their six matches thus far.

They did hold Manchester United 2-2 at Craven Cottage, while draws at both Bolton and Blackburn are no mean feats, but nevertheless, this could be a good time to take on the Cottagers.

Strikers Bobby Zamora and Moussa Dembele are now inury victims, leaving them short of firepower.

American Clint Dempsey, who scored in Fulham’s victory over West Ham at the Cottage last season, may well be the one to watch, while Hughes may even draft in Diomansy Kamara for the match after he came on as a substitute in the 0-0 draw with Everton at the weekend.

Hughes has made few changes from Hodgson’s squad, replacing Paul Konchesky with Carlos Salcido from PSV Eindhoven, and it is that continuity which makes them so hard to beat.

The Fulham boss may see this game as one that they can win however, and if he plays a more attacking game, that could give West Ham their best chance of victory.

Last season, West Ham grabbed the lead through Carlton Cole and then saw Fulham midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi sent off before half time.

However, the 10-men hit back and in the end West Ham had to rely on a last-minute equaliser from Junior Stanislas to grab a point.

If the Hammers play as they did against Tottenham then they should have few problems in sweepng Fulham aside.

The problem may well be getting up for another London derby so soon after last week and that could spell disaster.

History suggests that West Ham won’t lose. Fulham have not been victorious in the league at Upton Park since 2001, when Luis Boa Morte was part of that winning team.

Maybe he can be on the winning side again on Saturday.

Possible team: Schwarzer, Hangeland, Hughes, Salcido, Baird, Etuhu, Duff, Murphy, Gera, Dempsey, Davies.

Prediction

West Ham 3 Fulham 1