Brentford 1-0 West Ham
Crysencio Summerville was a surprising omission from Julen Lopetegui’s line-up following impressive performances against Chelsea and Liverpool.
West Ham made a horrendous start as Brentford scored from kick-off after only 23 seconds. Jean-Clair Todibo’s headed clearance wasn’t effective, leaving Bryan Mbeumo unmarked to score an excellent half-volley following a scramble.
The Hammers settled well after the initial shock of the early goal, with Mohammed Kudus justifying Lopetegui’s decision by making three attempts on goal and carrying the ball well. Unfortunately for the Ghanaian and West Ham, he was far too frequently isolated and lacked support during his mazy runs.
Michail Antonio looked busy throughout the half and pulled a left-footed shot just wide, but he was starved of service as most of Lucas Paquetá’s ideas failed to produce chances for his teammates.
Overall, it was not a bad first half for the Hammers, but the early error could prove costly, with the team struggling to create clear-cut chances.