False start for Hammers in top-four race
THE cracks are beginning to appear for West Ham after David Moyes’ men were stretched to breaking point by Brentford — and their congested schedule. The Hammers blew their chance to insert themselves back into the top-four equation, failing to take advantage of slip-ups by Arsenal and Manchester United as they too fell to defeat against a side languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table.
The midweek effort against Lyon, when they battled through the second half of their Europa League quarter-final with 10 men, appeared to have taken its toll.
There was damage beyond their top-four ambitions too and concern ahead of the second leg in France this Thursday. The sight of Kurt Zouma limping off during the first half with a twisted ankle was hardly ideal preparation, especially with the back line already depleted by the suspension of Aaron Cresswell. Craig Dawson also battled through the 90 in pain — his nose bloodied after taking a whack in the opening minute.
On the other hand, victory for Thomas Frank’s side moved them on to 36 points and put 12 between themselves and the bottom three. They will be a top-flight outfit next season.
A worrying run of just one point from 24 available at the turn of the year had seen them slip towards trouble. Four wins in their last five games have flipped the script. It is no coincidence that those are the four matches Christian Eriksen has started for the club.
It was Bryan Mbeumo and Ivan Toney who produced the telling moments here, though. Mbeumo fired home first from a Toney flick-on moments after the break. He later returned the favour, turning a cross back into the striker’s path to head home.
‘Maybe Thursday-Sunday caught up with us today,’ said Moyes (right). ‘We gave them a leg up. It was really shoddy from our point of view. We gave away two ridiculously bad goals.
‘We finished sixth last year and it was monumental. Talking about fourth is great. If we could make European football again I think it would be a great achievement. But we missed an opportunity today to try and challenge again.’
The Scot was in need of fresh legs after Thursday’s exploits against Lyon. He was able to welcome back Vladimir Coufal from injury, the Czech starting at right back for the first time since a draw at Leicester in mid-February. Manuel Lanzini returned for the first time since his car crash at the beginning of the month.
Despite their gutsy European display with 10 men, the Hammers boss had proclaimed himself disappointed with his side’s performance. There was little in the way of improvement here. The extra effort they had been forced to expend on Thursday showed in the opening stages, with the hosts afforded the opportunity to make the early running. Their first genuine opening came in the 21st minute. A smart ball from Toney cut through the West Ham defence down the left and Mbeumo raced on to it, his thumping effort forcing Lukasz Fabianski to palm the ball behind at his near post. Frank’s men continued making the better openings. A couple more chances for Mbeumo came and went. Brentford rather like London derbies, having now earned 14 points from their clashes with rivals across the capital this season, and they seemed to be enjoying themselves once more. West Ham were not. Their day got worse on 25 minutes. Zouma, felled earlier by Christian Norgaard, sat back down feeling his right ankle. He exited, gingerly, to be replaced by Issa Diop. Three minutes into the second half, Mbeumo finally took his chance. The goal was beautiful in its simplicity. A throw-in from Kristoffer Ajer on the right-hand edge of the Hammers’ box found the feet of Toney, who with one flick of his boot released Mbeumo in behind. He took it first time with his left, fizzing the ball beyond Fabianski.
‘It was close to being a complete performance,’ beamed Frank. ‘We more or less controlled the whole game from minute one to 90.’
Then came the moment that all but confirmed Brentford’s Premier League status.
The move was started by Eriksen dispossessing Michail Antonio on the edge of the Bees’ box. Seconds later Rico Henry was sent charging down the left. A give-and-go with Yoane Wissa helped him reach the byline and while his cross sailed over the head of Toney, Mbeumo met it with a cushioned volley to tee up the striker to head home his 12th league goal of the season.