As the West Ham supporters erupted with joy at Craven Cottage, Crysencio Summerville stood proudly, arms extended and beaming.
The Dutch winger had ample reason to celebrate, as his fifth goal of the Premier League season secured a crucial 1-0 victory for the Hammers against Fulham.
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Summerville’s decisive strike in the 65th minute bolstered his team’s pursuit of Premier League survival in 2026, helping them gain ground on 17th-place Nottingham Forest.
In an interview with TNT Sports, Summerville remarked, “We have to fight until the end, and that’s exactly what we did. I’m incredibly pleased to take home the three points.”
The forward, who faced difficulties with both form and confidence after his transfer from Leeds United 18 months ago, has now scored more goals in his last 10 appearances for the club (seven) than in his initial 38 outings (one).
“I’m in a great place. I love playing, and I’m just happy to be back on the pitch, showing my worth each week,” he added.
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“We must keep this momentum. We took plenty of positives from the Liverpool match—there was a lot to be encouraged about. Our fans are behind us, and we’re moving in the right direction; the only way is up.”
Yet it’s not just Summerville who is finding his rhythm as the season intensifies—West Ham is also gaining traction.
The Hammers have earned 14 of their 28 points this season in their last eight Premier League games.
This impressive run means that if they can overcome Manchester City on March 14, they will climb out of the relegation zone for the first time since December.
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‘We are improving game by game’
Following a heavy defeat to a struggling Liverpool side the previous Saturday, it would have been easy for West Ham to succumb to disappointment.
However, Nuno Espirito Santo remained resolute, choosing to focus on the positive aspects from the Anfield experience, where his team recorded an expected goals (xG) of 1.75, prior to their short journey to Fulham.
After the victory at Craven Cottage, Nuno stated to TNT Sports, “We are improving game by game.”
“These sorts of matches can happen, like against Liverpool, but the confidence within the team is intact. The players are working very hard, fully aware that our situation doesn’t alter our approach.”
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“We’re concentrating on ourselves and pushing forward.”
Fixtures pile up for the Hammers
The celebrations among the away fans at Craven Cottage could easily have been mistaken for those of a team celebrating survival on the final day of the season.
However, West Ham still faces nine matches as they strive to avoid relegation to the Championship for the first time since 2011.
The Hammers’ next challenge is against Brentford on Monday in the FA Cup fifth round.
Following that, the schedule heats up for the 2023 Conference League champions.
They will go up against three of the current top four in the league—Manchester City, Arsenal, and Aston Villa—alongside crucial battles with relegation rivals Wolves and Leeds United, the latter being slated for the last day of the season at the London Stadium.
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Interestingly, having five out of the remaining nine matches at home could indicate complications. The London Stadium has often felt less than welcoming for West Ham, with fan protests against the board and only three home wins this season creating a disconnected atmosphere.
While much work lies ahead for West Ham to secure their safety, as Summerville indicated after Wednesday’s performance, the Hammers seem to be heading in a promising direction—upwards.