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Danny Ings remained adamant in the summer that he did not want to leave West Ham.
The striker is not part of Julen Lopetegui’s plans for this season but, determined to stay and fight for his place, the 32-year-old has refused to move away from the London Stadium.
With time running out at Craven Cottage yesterday, Ings showed why you can’t write him off.
He might not have made the bench had it not been for Niclas Fullkrug’s injury, but he came on in the 82nd minute to equalize in the 95th minute.
“Danny Ings in the summer was more or less out but he stayed and we believe in him,” said Lopetegui.
Danny Ings scored a 95th minute equalizer to rescue a point for West Ham against Fulham
Ings put the ball into the back of the net to score with just seconds left
The Hammers striker ran off in celebration to silence Craven Cottage
‘He’s been working hard even when he’s not playing. This is a good example for his friends. They all have to be ready and Danny is always ready.
‘I like him. He talked about leaving the possibility in the summer but he stayed and he worked well.’
Fulham had taken the lead in the 24th minute through Raul Jimenez but missed several chances to add to their advantage – with Adama Traore being the party most at fault.
“We need to be more clinical and ruthless,” said Fulham boss Marco Silva. ‘We have to kill the game. Even so, it should have been enough if we stayed focused until the last second.’
Silva believed his team should have been awarded a penalty when Traore was challenged by Max Kilman in the 16th minute. Traore went over on goal when Kilman made contact from behind, but referee Tim Robinson did not point to the spot, while VAR ruled the defender’s touch was ‘minimal.’
“It’s a clear and obvious penalty in my opinion,” Silva said. ‘It’s amazing how it’s not a punishment. It was hard to accept.
‘It had a huge impact on the game. If there is a penalty, it is a red card. He’s not trying to play ball.’
Silva didn’t have to wait long for his team to take the lead after that incident. Andreas Pereira picked out Emile Smith Rowe with the ball over the top and his cross found Jimenez, who beat Alphonse Areola.
It took until the hour mark for West Ham to see the first goal, with Jarrod Bowen forcing a good save from Bernd Leno after connecting with Mohammed Kudus’s cross.
Raul Jimenez’s first-half goal (right) gave Fulham the lead against West Ham on Saturday
The Mexican striker curled the ball through Areola’s legs to break the deadlock
Jimenez watched the ball go into the back of West Ham’s goal at Craven Cottage
West Ham players celebrated with Ings at the full-time whistle after the 1-1 draw
Traore should have doubled Fulham’s lead when he was taken out in the box by Tom Cairney, but his forward header sailed just over the bar.
Deadline day loan signing Carlos Soler came on for his West Ham debut in the final 20 minutes but it was the 82nd minute substitute who made the decisive impact. Vladimir Coufal’s quick throw found Bowen on the right and he sent a first-time cross to Ings, who took one touch before firing past Leno.
