SOUL OF SPORT: Fulham narrowly edged past Premier League newcomers Luton Town at Craven Cottage on Saturday… ANDY HOOPER captures all the excitement and drama from the famous old ground in pictures

• Every week on a Monday, our Soul of Sport series will take readers behind the scenes at top sporting events 
• ANDY HOOPER travelled to Craven Cottage for the Premier League clash between Fulham and Luton Town
• His photographs capture all the emotions and drama from Saturday’s match, with the Cottagers winning 1-0

Welcome back to the Soul of Sport. For our latest episode of the series, ANDY HOOPER travelled to Craven Cottage on Saturday for Fulham’s Premier League clash with Luton.

The Cottagers dominated possession in the match but were held by the newly-promoted side for more than an hour – who themselves missed some clear cut opportunities – before substitute Carlos Vinicius netted the winner after coming off the bench in his first appearance of the season.

Marco Silva’s side moved up to ninth with the victory after a tumultuous summer when they lost star man Aleksandar Mitrovic to the riches of Saudi Arabia, while several other key players were targeted by other clubs. Meanwhile, Premier League newcomers Luton remain without a point after four games. 

On a sunny day in west London, our man was there before and after the game to capture the atmosphere and drama from the famous old stadium, which sits on the bank of the River Thames.

It was captured using a Nikon Z9 Camera with 24-70mm, 70-200mm and 400mm lenses.

Fulham entertained newly-promoted Luton Town in a Premier League clash at Craven Cottage on Saturday afternoon 

Supporters of both Fulham and Luton mingle together outside of Craven Cottage ahead of the game getting underway at 3PM

Craven Cottage is a picturesque and quaint old stadium and is based in the desirable west London postcode of SW6

One Luton supporter makes the most of what is their first season in the Premier League in their history with a custom T-shirt

Craven Cottage is a beautiful ground that sits on the banks of the River Thames and it is just two miles from Stamford Bridge 

Supporters enjoy a pre-match beverage on a sunny day outside the ground as participants of the Great River Race pass by

One young supporter shows off their Fulham-themed face paint as they prepare to cheer on Marco Silva’s side on Saturday

Another Cottagers fan takes a moment to relax ahead of the game as Fulham go in search of their second win of the season

Fulham fans make their way to the stadium while wearing their team’s shirt, with their favourite players’ names on the back

The famous ‘cottage’ at Craven Cottage, which is still used to this day to house both the home and away dressing rooms

Four supporters show of their matching shirts, with the quartet huge fans of Fulham’s Brazilian midfielder Andreas Pereira

The players receive a warm welcome onto the Craven Cottage pitch with Luton still in search of their first top flight points

Fulham were frustrated for the first hour of the clash as they struggled to find their way through a resolute Hatters side

Fulham supporters wave their scarves in memory of popular former owner Mohamed Al-Fayed, who tragically died last month

Luton supporters attempt to motivate their side after they came into the game with three losses from three league games

One Hatters supporter reacts in anguish after a missed chance, with striker Jacob Brown going closest when he hit the post

Fulham’s Mexican forward Raul Jimenez attempts an audacious overhead kick from inside the penalty area, but to no avail

The Cottagers finally break the deadlock after 65 minutes thanks to substitute Carlos Vinicius (centre), who tapped home

It was his first goal of the season on his first appearance after being an unused substitute in four previous league games

The result takes Marco Silva’s side up to ninth in the league after a tumultuous summer when they lost star man Aleksandar Mitrovic to the riches of Saudi Arabia, while several other key players and boss Silva were targeted by other clubs

Fulham forward Bobby Decordova-Reid takes a walk around the Craven Cottage pitch after full-time with his young child 

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