In truth, taking a point off [Man City](https://www.claretandhugh.info/west-ham-united-1-1-manchester-city-the-morning-after/) felt like a bonus, and most West Ham fans had already pencilled in the trip to Aston Villa as at best a draw. Only the boldest optimists dared whisper about an away win.
A late reshuffle after Jean‑Clair Todibo’s injury wasn’t part of the plan, but the strategy was obvious, sit deep, survive, and hope for a counterpunch.
Dinos Mavropanos was immense, easily West Ham’s standout performer but the absence of Summerville for a second straight match was glaring. Without him, the Hammers looked blunt, predictable, and largely harmless.
It took Villa just fifteen minutes to slice through, with John McGinn left inexplicably unmarked before curling in a left‑footed strike from the edge of the box.
And if there’s a striker anywhere in England suffering a goal drought, West Ham are the cure. Ollie Watkins proved it again, doubling Villa’s lead from a rebound after Hermansen saved from Morgan Rogers.
Nuno’s side seeing just 41% of the ball was no surprise, but an xG of 0.94 and only one shot on target from nine attempts paints a bleak picture. Whatever attacking ideas Paco Jemez has brought in seem to have been shoved firmly to the back of the cupboard.
Now comes a two‑week reset, with fingers crossed that the squad returns from the international break in one piece. With a thin squad and hopes pinned on Summerville’s return for the FA Cup quarter final match against Leeds United, the Hammers then face Wolves at home. Doomsayers have branded it a “must‑win” match, and I absolutely agree!