West Ham United will be hoping to spring a surprise when they host Brentford at the London Stadium on Monday evening, as Premier League action resumes following the international break.
The clash marks Nuno Espírito Santo’s first home game in charge, with Brentford aiming to spoil the occasion and continue their steady form under Keith Andrews. For West Ham, however, it’s a chance to spark a much-needed turnaround after a poor run of results that has left the club languishing near the foot of the table.
Supporter unrest is expected to be evident once again, with fan protests planned before and during the match. A smaller-than-usual crowd is also anticipated at the Olympic Park, reflecting growing frustration with the team’s current struggles.
West Ham looking to close the gap
The Hammers parted ways with Graham Potter following a string of disappointing performances, having lost six of their matches across all competitions. Sitting 19th in the Premier League, they desperately need points to climb away from danger.
Brentford, meanwhile, have experienced mixed results of late — a strong 3-1 win over Manchester United was followed by defeat to Manchester City — and they’ll be keen to regain consistency. Should West Ham pull off a win on Monday, they would move level on points with their West London rivals — a scenario that surprised pundit Paul Merson.
Writing in his Sportskeeda predictions column on 17 October, Merson admitted he was taken aback by how close the two sides are in the table.
“There are only three points between them, so it’s a huge game at the bottom,” Merson wrote. “Brentford haven’t been great, but West Ham have been worse and have already changed their manager. It’s crazy to think a win puts them level with Brentford.
“West Ham haven’t won at home since February — I can’t believe I’m backing them — but Brentford’s away form hasn’t been good. I think the Hammers might just nick it.”
Merson has gone for a 2-1 win to West Ham.
A tricky test for Nuno’s side
Despite some positives in their recent display against Everton, Nuno’s men were comfortably beaten by Arsenal, and the new manager will be well aware of the challenge posed by Brentford.
The Bees’ flexibility — capable of dominating possession or countering at pace — makes them a difficult opponent. Forwards Kevin Schade and Igor Thiago have both been lively threats this season and could cause problems for West Ham’s defence if given space.
For the hosts, precision and discipline will be vital. Brentford may not boast the same pedigree as Arsenal or Manchester City, but their well-drilled, pragmatic style has often undone teams who underestimate them.
West Ham’s fight for survival is still in its early stages — and Monday’s result could prove a defining moment in whether their campaign begins to recover or continues to unravel.