West Ham United's struggles deepened following a 2-0 defeat to Brentford at the London Stadium on Monday, a result that prompted a frank assessment from their new head coach, Nuno Espírito Santo. The loss leaves West Ham languishing near the bottom of the Premier League table, intensifying concerns among fans and raising questions about the team's direction.
Espirito Santo, who recently took charge, didn't mince words when evaluating his team's performance. "Today was a disappointing evening because it was a disappointing performance," he stated. "It was not good enough". He acknowledged the fans' concerns, noting how that feeling can transfer to the players, creating anxiety on the pitch.
The match saw Brentford dominate for significant periods, recording a club record of 22 shots in an away Premier League fixture. Igor Thiago opened the scoring for Brentford in the 43rd minute, and Mathias Jensen sealed the victory with a goal in stoppage time. West Ham, on the other hand, struggled to create clear-cut chances, with Jarrod Bowen's shot being tipped around the post by Brentford's goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher being their closest attempt.
Espirito Santo pointed to a promising start, stating, "The first 15 minutes things were clicking and the team were organised and combining well". However, he admitted that the team lost composure after that initial period. He also credited Brentford's physicality and their ability to cause problems through set-pieces and throw-ins, which shifted the game's momentum.
The atmosphere at the London Stadium was subdued, with many fans protesting against the club owners by staying away. Espirito Santo acknowledged the difficult situation, saying, "It was tough. Not just for me. It was tough for our fans, for our players, for everybody". He recognized the challenge of bringing the fans back and emphasized the need to change the team's momentum.
Looking ahead, Espirito Santo stressed the importance of improvement, particularly in individual battles on the pitch. With a game against Leeds United coming up, he called for a "big improvement" from his squad. He also promised hard work from the coaching staff to help the team climb out of the relegation zone. "Responsibility, commitment, hard work and a little bit more of conscious effort. We need it," he said.
The defeat marks a challenging start for Espirito Santo at West Ham, with the team showing a lack of organization and creativity. The new coach faces a significant task in lifting the team's spirits, addressing their defensive vulnerabilities, and finding a way to connect with the disgruntled fanbase.
