Brentford pile further pressure on Moyes

MANAGER David Moyes says they aren’t in a relegation scrap. Captain Declan Rice says the same. And yet, West Ham could find themselves bottom of the Premier League on New Year’s Day. That is dependent on Wolves, Nottingham Forest and Southampton all winning. Unlikely, granted, but the theoretical scenario alone is worrying. A fifth consecutive league defeat leaves West Ham in a perilous position after sixth and seventh-placed finishes in the last two seasons. Moyes was insistent in his pre-match press conference that, whatever happens, he has the support of David Sullivan and Co. A growing number of West Ham’s fans are losing their faith. Sullivan, watching from the stands, heard the boos. He saw the supporters leaving when substitute Michail Antonio kicked the air instead of the ball in the second half. He felt the misery. Both of Brentford’s goals came from throwins with Ivan Toney scoring one and assisting the other. Whatever comes of those betting charges against Toney — it is alleged he breached the rules 262 times — his laser focus on the field cannot be questioned. Lucas Paqueta, who honoured his fellow Brazilian Pele before kick-off, was picked in midfield beside Rice. It was one of several big calls made by Moyes (right) after a fourmatch losing streak, with Paqueta starting over Tomas Soucek, dropped for the first time in the Premier League this season, and Gianluca Scamacca replacing Antonio after returning from an ankle injury. Moyes also switched to a back three with wing-backs and, for a while, it worked. Within five minutes, Brentford’s post was shaking when Rice tried to curl a 25-yarder into the far corner, then Craig Dawson went close with a header. But from the visitors’ first true chance they went ahead. Brentford love a set-piece and Mathias Jensen’s long throw led to a headed knock-on from Ethan Pinnock. Christian Norgaard’s shot was stopped superbly by Lukasz Fabianski, Toney’s rebound wasn’t. ‘Sacked in the morning,’ sang Brentford’s supporters as the cameras cut to a close-up of Moyes. It would get worse. In the 43rd minute, Brentford made it 2-0 from another throw-in, Josh Dasilva scoring beyond Fabianski. West Ham thought they had their route back into the game when they were awarded a penalty in the 47th minute after Ben Mee tripped Jarrod Bowen. Yet VAR John Brooks studied the foul and ruled that it occurred outside of the box. It was downgraded to a free-kick which came to nothing, much like many of West Ham’s second-half chances.