West Ham have prolonged their miserable start to the Premier League season with a 2-1 defeat at Leeds on Friday, leaving new manager Nuno Espirito Santo still searching for his first win.
The Portuguese tactician, who replaced Graham Potter in September, oversaw his third consecutive defeat in charge of the Hammers, with early goals from Brenden Aaronson and Joe Rodon proving decisive for the hosts.
While West Ham pulled one back late through Mateus Fernandes, scoring their first Premier League goal in October, a fourth consecutive game without a win has given Espirito Santo plenty to think about.
With seven goals conceded in four games, West Ham’s defence has been a talking point, but last night’s woeful performance in midfield has also put Espirito Santo’s selection under scrutiny.
The Portuguese manager fielded Andy Irving for a second consecutive game, and the decision proved costly, as the Scotsman struggled to gain a foothold in the match at Elland Road.
Andy Irving Disappointed vs Leeds United
andy irving
Irving was only given his second start of the Premier League season on Friday, after also being named in the first XI for the 2-0 home defeat against Brentford earlier this week.
Espirito Santo stuck with the Scotsman and Tomas Soucek’s duo in the middle of the park for a second game in a row, with goalscorer Fernandes, Guido Rodriguez, Soungoutou Magassa and Freddie Potts starting on the bench.
Irving struggled to make his presence felt on the field after West Ham were stunned early with two goals in the first 15 minutes, completing just 36 passes, making no accurate crosses and winning only one of his five duels.
Espirito Santo hooked both of his defensive midfielders just after the hour mark, with Potts and Fernandes coming on as West Ham searched for a late goal.
Fernandes was handed a 3/10 rating by West Ham Zone for his display on Friday, with his performance branded ‘shocking’.
With Rodriguez, Fernandes and Magassa available for selection, Espirito Santo now faces a decision ahead of West Ham’s next game – Newcastle’s visit to the London Stadium on November 2.
Given Irving’s struggles in midfield for a second consecutive game, it may be time for the Portuguese tactician to consider dropping him and giving one of the other options a chance to make an impact.