WEST HAM manager David Moyes must be concerned about his future after Friday’s defeat at home to Brentford at the London Stadium.

It was West Ham’s second loss in four days since the season resumed after the six-week break for the World Cup, but, perhaps more significantly, the fifth successive defeat since the start of November.

This latest defeat was a lesson as to what happens when possession is not turned into goals.

West Ham dominated the first half, with Declan Rice rocking the post with a shot, after being set up by Said Benrahma. Craig Dawson then nodded an effort wide from a Jarrod Bowen corner.

Little was seen of Brentford as an attacking force until a long throw was nodded on to Christian Norgaard, whose shot was pushed out by Hammers keeper Lukasz Fabianski.
The parry was then smashed back into the net by the incoming Ivan Toney.

West Ham’s Emerson then had his shot turned aside by Bees keeper David Raya.

Toney then turned provider, flicking the ball on to Josh Dasilva, who went past full-back Aaron Cresswell as though he wasn’t there to finish past Fabianski.

West Ham continued to huff and puff in the second half, but all too often their efforts finished in the hands of Raya or were easily cleared by Brentford defenders.

The best efforts from the home side saw Raya push aside a Gianluca Scamacca long shot, then acrobatically turn over a Dawson header.

Brentford looked dangerous every time they broke forward, with Saman Ghoddos seeing his effort, after a free kick came back off the wall, turned aside by Fabianski.

David Moyes felt his team played well without getting the breaks. “We were the better team in the first and second half,” he said, and praised the team for their effort and keeping going.

Brentford manager Thomas Frank thought West Ham were the better team in the first half. “They had one or two good chances before we scored,” he admitted. He is keen to see his side kick on in 2023.