West Ham’s struggles continued as Brentford secured a 1-0 victory at the London Stadium, deepening Graham Potter’s woes. With a new striker on the bench and Lucas Paquetá returning from injury, there was hope for a rejuvenated attack. However, despite brief moments of promise, West Ham’s performance remained uninspiring.
Brentford dominated the first half, pressing aggressively and capitalizing on defensive frailties. Their early intensity paid off just four minutes in when Kevin Schade found the net after a swift counterattack. West Ham’s defense was caught out of position, with Konstantinos Mavropanos and Emerson Palmieri failing to contain Bryan Mbeumo, whose pass set up Schade to score at the second attempt after Alphonse Areola’s initial save.
The goal highlighted a recurring issue for West Ham, as it marked the 10th time they had conceded within the opening 10 minutes this season. Potter’s tactical shift to a back four failed to provide stability, with Mavropanos and Max Kilman exposed at the heart of defense. Meanwhile, the midfield pairing of Tomas Soucek and Edson Álvarez lacked the necessary dynamism to wrest control from Brentford, who repeatedly carved through West Ham’s lines, aided by Mikel Damsgaard’s intelligent movement.
Brentford could have widened their lead, with Mbeumo forcing a sharp save from Areola, Schade hitting the woodwork, and Yoane Wissa wasting multiple chances. Two of Wissa’s efforts found the net but were ruled out for offside. Despite their profligacy, Brentford remained composed, maintaining their shape and discipline to frustrate the hosts.
West Ham’s struggles in attack mirrored their defensive frailties. Mohammed Kudus, deployed centrally, failed to impose himself, and the link-up between Paquetá and Jarrod Bowen was ineffective. The first half ended with West Ham offering little in terms of attacking threat, prompting Potter to make three halftime changes in search of a response.
Ollie Scarles replaced Emerson at left-back, James Ward-Prowse returned from his loan spell at Nottingham Forest, and Evan Ferguson was introduced for Carlos Soler, providing a much-needed focal point up front. The changes injected some urgency, with Ferguson immediately making an impact, setting up Kudus for a golden opportunity that the forward squandered by firing over from close range.
West Ham continued to push forward in search of an equalizer. Paquetá and Scarles both went close, while Ferguson and Bowen had penalty appeals turned down. However, Brentford remained resilient, managing the game well and limiting West Ham’s clear-cut chances.
Potter acknowledged his team’s poor first-half display but found positives in their second-half response. Nevertheless, a return of just one win from his first six games in charge paints a concerning picture. While West Ham sit 10 points clear of the relegation zone, their lack of momentum and flat performances suggest an uphill battle to salvage their season.
Brentford, in contrast, continue to impress as a well-drilled, disciplined side. Their ability to blend attacking creativity with defensive solidity has kept them comfortable in mid-table, and this victory reinforced their reputation as one of the Premier League’s most efficient teams.
