The Hammers face Leeds United next up in the FA Cup
James Smailes
11:31, 23 Mar 2026
West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo
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West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo
West Ham United boss Nuno Espirito Santo got exactly what he didn't want at the weekend with his team having their momentum halted in the worst possible fashion with a flat display and a defeat at Aston Villa.
The Hammers had won one and drawn the other of their two games heading to Villa Park and had an opportunity to get out of the relegation zone for the first time in a very long while, had they managed to win at a Villa side who had suffered three successive league losses.
Unfortunately for the Londoners, they went down 2-0 and couldn't show the type of fight they have done of late in what was a poor display. To compound matters, Jean-Clair Todibo had to withdraw from the pre-game warm-up at Villa Park with an injury, with his fitness for the next game now uncertain.
West Ham host Leeds United next up in the FA Cup quarter-finals. Todibo's absence forced a shift in formation at Villa Park and West Ham struggled without the £33m signing in defence. He could be missing for the Cup tie along with ex-Leeds star Crysencio Summerville, who is also rated doubtful to return in time from his calf injury.
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That would be advantage Leeds, as it currently is in the relegation race, with West Ham's performance the opposite of what Espirito Santo wanted from his players ahead of a two-week break.
“It is not good to go into the international break with this feeling,” Espirito Santo told Sky Sports. ”It is realising that we must do better. We have a lot of work to do. We didn’t play good, we have to react, do things better, and we are in the fight.
“It is a moment to reflect and realise we have to do much better. I think the fans today felt disappointed with us, and that is what hurts the most.”
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