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Brentford Dominate West Ham, Securing First Away Win of Season
Sparse attendance marked West Ham’s London derby against Brentford, with swathes of empty seats visible before kickoff and increasingly so as the match progressed.
Those fans who remained voiced their displeasure with boos after a dismal 2-0 defeat, a scoreline that flattered the home side.
A palpable sense of discontent is permeating the London Stadium, with some supporters actively staying away in protest against the club’s leadership.
New West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo, still seeking his first victory after three matches, acknowledged the need to rebuild the connection with the fanbase.
The head coach offered a stark assessment of the team’s performance.
“Not good enough. Poor,” stated the Portuguese manager, overseeing his inaugural home game since succeeding Graham Potter, following two away fixtures.
“Brentford deserved the win; they were the superior team.”
“We are all concerned, as are our supporters. Concern breeds anxiety, leading to silence, which affects the players. We have a significant problem.”
“Their reaction is understandable. It is incumbent upon us to change the narrative. The fans need to witness encouraging signs that warrant their support and energy.”
“I comprehend and respect their sentiment. It is our responsibility to rectify the situation and reunite the fanbase.”
West Ham remain in 19th position, with a mere four points from their initial eight games. Their next Premier League fixture sees them travel to Leeds on Friday.
Nuno told BBC Sport: “This is a challenge for everyone involved. We must shift the momentum and regain the support of our fans. A substantial improvement is required within four days.”
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Nuno Espirito Santo began the season managing Europa League contenders Nottingham Forest but now faces a relegation battle with West Ham.
West Ham have now lost five consecutive home games in the top flight for only the second time in their history, with the previous instance occurring in April 1931.
This marks the first time they have lost their opening four home games in a league season.
The Hammers had previously drawn at Everton and lost 2-0 to Arsenal in their first two games under Nuno, who was dismissed as Nottingham Forest boss earlier in the campaign.
Against Brentford, they offered minimal attacking threat and were fortunate that only Igor Thiago and Mathias Jensen scored from the visitors’ 22 shots.
This was a Brentford side led by rookie manager Keith Andrews, who secured his first away victory of the league season.
“West Ham were shocking and have been shocking for a while,” commented Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher.
“I felt for them at the start of the season. West Ham, with that squad, were always going to struggle physically, regardless of the manager. Brentford absolutely bullied them.”
Former Hammers midfielder Gary O’Neil added: “I was confident West Ham would be fine, but having watched that, I have real concerns.
“They appear lost, lacking confidence, and disjointed.
“That performance requires a seismic shift. Nuno faces a monumental task.”
London Stadium featured clusters of empty seats, partly due to the latest phase of protests organized by supporters’ group Hammers United, who are calling for the departure of chairman David Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady.
The pair have been at the club for 15 years and were instrumental in the team’s move from Upton Park to London Stadium, which hosted athletics at the 2012 Olympics and has a football capacity of over 62,000.
However, many fans believe the club has lost its identity since leaving Upton Park, lamenting the superior atmosphere of their former home. The covered athletics track at London Stadium also contributes to a poor view for those in the upper tiers.
Prior to last month’s defeat to Crystal Palace, which proved to be Graham Potter’s final game in charge, approximately 3,000 Hammers fans protested outside the directors’ entrance.
The supporters chanted for Sullivan and Brady to leave, citing broken promises, a lack of squad strengthening, inadequate training facilities, and a poor matchday experience.
Now, a boycott is underway by some fans, and the campaign against the club’s leadership is set to intensify. A larger march, with organizers hoping for at least 9,000 attendees, is planned for the home match against Burnley on Saturday, November 8.
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