On the basis of this performance, those who thought that a change of manager at West Ham would turn things around maybe in for a shock.

 

This was an even more haphazard and under par performance than those previously seen at at the London Stadium this season. The fourth defeat out of four.

 

The initial selection baffled many, with left and right backs, Ollie Scarles and Kyle Walker-Peters, reversed to play on opposite flanks. Again, there was no recognised central striker, as the midfield was packed.

 

Brentford really should have won the game far more easily. Though, West Ham did start the game brightly, pressing in and around the visitors box for the first 20 minutes but this quickly fizzled out.

 

Half an hour into the game, Igor Thiago headed over when well placed in front of goal. Alphonse Areola then pushed a header from Mikkel Damsgaard round the post.

 

Finally, the breakthrough came when Max Kilman failed to intercept another long ball, allowing Kevin Schade to lay off for Thiago to apply the finishing touch.

 

Thiago then had the ball in the net again but it was ruled out for offside.

West Ham’s sole threat was a shot by Jarrod Bowen from the edge of the area, which was pushed round the post by Caoimhin Kelleher.

 

The second half, saw Brentford continue to dominate, with Schade seeing his powerful header bounce back off the bar.

 

Then, Areola saved with his legs from Thiago.

 

It was not until the 94th minute that Brentford sealed the deal, Keane Lewis Potter crossing for an unmarked Mathias Jensen to smash into the roof of the net from just inside the penalty area.

 

The West Ham head coach had sympathy with the fans angry reaction. “I understand the atmosphere, it is up to us to change it,” said Espirito Santo, who expressed concern about players not winning individual battles on the field.

 

“We are a long way from finding an identity,” he added.

 

Brentford head coach Keith Andrews was pleased with, what he regarded as his team’s best performance of the season. “We controlled the game, with the ball and pressed,” said Andrews.

 

Espirito Santo certainly has a job on if he is going to save West Ham from relegation, at the moment they must be among the favourites.