Roy Hodgson, the Fulham manager, tried to put the result into perspective. “I wouldn’t have been doing cartwheels with a 0-0 but I certainly wouldn’t have been as depressed as I am at this particular moment in time,” he said. Had he executed a cartwheel or jumped 50 feet into a bucket of water, it would not have been enough to lift the spirits at Craven Cottage.

This was miserable fare won by a controversial goal that compounds Fulham’s plight and gives West Ham hope of a Uefa Cup place. Hodgson did not harangue Howard Webb, the referee, after Nolberto Solano appeared, first, to foul Antti Niemi, then score with an elbow.

“What’s the point?” Hodgson said. “Will he change the result, will he go back on his decision, will he rescind the red card, [Leon Andreasen received a second caution for his protests] and will he take away the goal? It’s a pointless exercise.” David McNally, managing director of Fulham, thought otherwise, however, and, an hour after the match, confronted Webb and Rob Styles, the fourth official, angrily.

But Fulham’s fight to stay up could begin to look pointless itself. Hodgson’s pledge that after “a day and a half of grieving” his team would “try to make certain we can go out against Manchester United next week and give them as good a game as we gave West Ham” will not necessarily cheer up the supporters. Fulham will have to accomplish a lot more than on Saturday.

Fabio Capello, the England manager, watching from the stands, at least had an agenda other than the hope of entertainment. Matthew Upson, the West Ham defender, played for Capello at Wembley against Switzerland earlier in the month and is keen for more caps.

“I’ve worked really hard to get into the England side and it’s a massive personal goal of mine to play for my country as often as possible,” Upson said. “I’m hungry to do that. I’ll do whatever it takes to stay in the side.” Upson’s case would be strengthened if his club were in European competition. “I’m dying for it – it’s what I need to progress my career,” he added.

Hodgson, meanwhile, left to “do my grieving in private”. It was a dignified exit – but the home crowd were desperate for cartwheels.

Fulham (4-3-2-1): A Niemi 5 – P Stalteri 4, A Hughes 4, B Hangeland 4, P Konchesky 4 – D Kamara 4, L Andreasen 5, D Murphy 4 – J Bullard 6, C Dempsey 5 (sub: E Johnson, 76min) – B McBride 4. Substitutes not used: K Keller, C Bocanegra, A Smertin, E Nevland. Booked: Andreasen, Murphy, Hangeland. Sent off: Andreasen. Next: Manchester United (h).

West Ham United (4-4-2): R Green 6 – L Neill 4, M Upson 5, A Ferdinand 5, G McCartney 5 – J Faubert 3 (sub: N Solano, 63 5), M Noble 4, H Mullins 4, F Ljungberg 4 (sub: J Spector, 90) – L Boa Morte 4, C Cole 6 (sub: D Ashton, 80). Substitutes not used: R Wright, J Paintsil. Next: Chelsea (h).