West Ham were left frustrated after letting another lead slip on Sunday as Aston Villa claimed victory at the London Stadium, despite the hosts going in front twice. Goals from Mateus Fernandes and Jarrod Bowen put the Hammers ahead, but Konstantinos Mavropanos’ own goal followed by two second half strikes from Morgan Rogers turned the game in Villa’s favour.
The defeat sparked visible anger among both supporters and head coach Nuno Espirito Santo, with attention quickly focusing on Lucas Paqueta. The Brazilian was heavily criticised for his role in the momentum swing that allowed Villa back into the contest.
Nuno highlights Paqueta error after Villa comeback
Speaking to West Ham TV after the match, via Hammers News, Nuno pointed to Paqueta’s loss of possession early in the second half as a key moment that changed the game. That mistake led directly to Rogers’ first goal and proved costly.
Nuno admitted there were positives to take from the performance, but stressed that poor game management continues to hurt his side. He explained that West Ham had control and were leading at the break, only to give Aston Villa a route back into the match. According to the manager, surrendering advantages has become a recurring issue in recent games and must be addressed.
Questions grow over Paqueta’s West Ham future
Paqueta’s struggles have added to speculation surrounding his long term future at the club. While the midfielder recently had a major weight lifted after an FA investigation into alleged spot fixing was dropped, his form has not returned to the level he previously showed in claret and blue.
With the January transfer window approaching, doubts are increasing over whether Paqueta will remain a key figure under Nuno or if West Ham could consider offers. For now, the focus remains on cutting out costly errors as the Hammers look to stabilise their season.