Fulham’s chances of retaining their Premier League status suffered a cruel late blow on Saturday when substitute Nolberto Solano’s 87th-minute strike gave West Ham a 1-0 win at Craven Cottage.

The defeat leaves Roy Hodgson’s side four points adrift of Birmingham, the side currently occupying the final survival spot, and their chances of beating the drop will not have been helped by the sending off of Leon Andreasen.

The Denmark defender was condemned to at least a one-match ban after receiving a second yellow card for his protests to the referee about Solano’s winner, which appeared to come off the Peruvian midfielder’s arm after he had kicked the ball out of the hands of goalkeeper Antii Niemi.

Prior to the match, there was a minute’s applause to mark the 15th anniversary of the death of Bobby Moore, England’s 1966 World Cup winning captain who played for both of the London clubs.

But the action that followed, watched by England coach Fabio Capello, did little to honour the memory of one of England’s most graceful players.

Fulham’s lack of any cutting edge ensured West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green was afforded few opportunities to impress Capello.

At the other end, Niemi was busier, saving Carlton Cole’s early volley before watching another effort from the striker skim the crossbar.

West Ham should have gone ahead when former Fulham favourite Luis Boa Morte headed against the crossbar midway through the opening period.

The nearest Fulham came to scoring was when a couple of goalbound shots from Diomansy Kamara and Jimmy Bullard appeared to strike the arms of Anton Ferdinand and Freddie Ljungberg early in the second half.

But both penalty claims were waved away by the referee and West Ham spurned another gilt-edged chance when an unmarked Cole headed straight into Niemi’s arms.

Alan Curbishley’s side maintained their pressure however and it paid off in controversial fashion with the three points boosting their hopes of European football next season.