West Ham United manager Nuno Espirito Santo admitted his side “have a problem” following a dismal 2–0 defeat to Brentford at the London Stadium on Monday night a result that deepened the club’s early-season woes and left them second-bottom in the Premier League.
The evening began under a cloud of discontent as sections of West Ham fans boycotted the match in protest against the club’s board. Those who did attend voiced their frustration, booing the team off the pitch after another lacklustre performance. Goals from Igor Thiago and Mathias Jensen sealed Brentford’s first away win of the campaign a scoreline that could easily have been heavier given the visitors’ dominance.
The defeat marked a historic low point for the Hammers, who have now lost their first four home games of a season for the first time ever. To add to the drama, the result came on the same day former West Ham boss Graham Potter dismissed just weeks earlier was appointed Sweden’s national team manager.
“Not good enough. Poor,” Nuno said bluntly after the match. “Brentford deserved to win they were the better team. We are all concerned. You can see the fans are concerned too. Concern becomes anxiety, becomes silence. We have a problem.”
The Portuguese coach, who previously managed Nottingham Forest, acknowledged the supporters’ frustration but called for patience and unity. “It’s understandable,” he said. “It’s up to us to change that. The fans need to see something that inspires them something they can support and draw energy from.”
Brentford’s opener came in the 43rd minute, capitalizing on a defensive blunder from Maximilian Kilman, whose failed clearance allowed Kevin Schade to set up Thiago. Although goalkeeper Alphonse Areola got a hand to the shot, the ball spun into the far corner.
Thiago thought he had doubled the lead before halftime, but VAR ruled the effort out for offside. Brentford continued to threaten after the break, striking the woodwork twice through Thiago and Schade, before substitute Keane Lewis-Potter squared for Mathias Jensen to blast home in stoppage time, sealing a deserved victory.
A delighted Brentford manager Keith Andrews praised his team’s focus and spirit: “Very pleased. We approached the game really well,” he said. “I had a good feeling over the past few days the energy, the vibe around the group and the players delivered an excellent performance.”
For West Ham, however, pressure is mounting on Nuno to deliver a turnaround before the club’s Premier League survival prospects worsen further.
