West Ham v Brentford Preview: Nuno’s First Night at London Stadium
Monday night football returns to East London, and it’s a big one. West Ham United host Brentford under the lights at London Stadium (8pm GMT, live on Sky Sports), with Nuno Espírito Santo taking charge of his first home match as Hammers boss.
There will be an odd atmosphere around Stratford, given the planned protest and boycott of the game. Obviously neither are any reflection on Espirito Santo or his team as fans look to increase pressure to David Sullivan and Karren Brady to scarper.
Nuno’s first two games have produced mixed results — a gritty 1-1 draw at Everton followed by a 2-0 defeat at Arsenal — but already there are signs of better organisation and a clearer game plan. Now comes the first real test in his first home game.
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West Ham will be without the injured Niclas Fullkrug
Finding Defensive Balance
Nuno has made no secret of his priorities: fix the Premier League’s leakiest defence.
West Ham have shipped 16 goals, the most in the division, and currently sit on a –10 goal difference. Most worryingly, eight of those goals have come from set-pieces — twice as many as any other team.
It’s little surprise, then, that the new gaffer has spent the last few days working on his defence and bringing in some fresh coaching ideas from the academy setup. His track record suggests he knows how to sort it out — last season at Nottingham Forest, his side scored 17 goals from set pieces and conceded only nine, the same as eventual champions Liverpool.
Marshall could be in line for a first Premier League start
But it’s not just about shutting up shop. Against Everton, we saw glimpses of a more compact, counter-attacking shape — El Hadji Malick Diouf bombing forward, Jarrod Bowen finishing off a break. That’s the sort of pattern Nuno will want to see more of against Brentford.
The Bees Are Buzzing
This isn’t an easy fixture. Brentford arrive in good nick after a 3-1 win over Manchester United and a narrow 1-0 loss to Manchester City. They were outclassed in the first half against City but dominated after the break, and their confidence will be sky high.
Set-pieces remain a big weapon for them. Nearly half of their deliveries lead to a shot, the best rate in the league. And on the counter, no one’s more dangerous: they’ve already bagged three counter-attack goals, just one shy of their total for the whole of last season.
Their shot volume is low — just 55 attempts in total — but the quality of chances is elite. Their xG-per-shot of 0.17 is the best in the top flight, and their shot-on-target rate (42%) is also the league’s highest. It’s a classic quantity-versus-quality puzzle… but against a fragile West Ham defence, it is a worry.
Key Decisions for Nuno
Injury to Niclas Füllkrug gives Nuno a bit of a selection headache up front. Does he turn to young Callum Marshall, hand Callum Wilson a rare start, or shift Jarrod Bowen into a central striker role?
At the back, Kyle Walker-Peters may remain on the bench after Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s solid return against the Gooners. Expect a four-man defence with a solid base and and hopefully some improvements in the likes of Magassa.
Predicted Line-Ups
West Ham United
Position Player
GK Alphonse Areola
RB Aaron Wan Bissaka
CB Konstantinos Mavropanos
CB Max Kilman
LB El Hadji Malick Diouf
CDM Sengutu Magassa
RW Jarrod Bowen
CM Mateus Fernandes
CAM Lucas Paquetá
LW Crysencio Summerville
ST Callum Marshall
Referee: Andrew Madley
Madley has already shown 11 yellows and one red in four games this season. He last officiated Brentford against Liverpool in January.
Last Time Out
West Ham 0–1 Brentford
An early Kevin Schade strike (confirmed by goal-line tech) gave the Bees their third straight away win. West Ham had their moments — notably Kudus skying the best chance — but Brentford were dominant in the first half and deserved the points.
Final Thoughts
This is a huge game and very much a must no lose. Nuno will want a solid platform and a clean sheet to build from, while Brentford’s set-piece and counter-attack strengths make them a nightmare opponent. That said, we have just played the best in the business in Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal so in that regard have had good preparation.
Ordinarily, the loss of Fullkrug would be a problem but if we’re honest, he’s been pants. Therefore, it offers the opportunity for the new boss to switch things up. If he can get a win, it will calm a lot of nerves at The London Stadium and everyone watching on TV.
Prediction: West Ham 0-0 Brentford