Hope is a powerful drug at this time of year. The West Ham fans making the trip across London arrived at the Gtech Community Stadium high on the stuff this afternoon.
Seven points from their last three. Momentum — that most elusive of qualities in a relegation battle. An unchanged team. A chance to put clear daylight between them and Tottenham. Even a bit of Bank Holiday sun.
Trouble is, even the most powerful of stimulants eventually wear off. And over the course of 90 decidedly sobering minutes, the Hammers' hope evaporated.
In the end, what matters is this: West Ham lost 3-0 to Brentford. They blew their chance to pile the pressure on Tottenham ahead of their trip to Villa Park on Sunday. What could have been a five-point gap stayed at two. Could even be a deficit by the time they kick off against Arsenal next Sunday.
But that doesn’t tell the full story. This was a breathless game right from the first whistle, a side fighting for Europe against one fighting for their lives. And West Ham came close, so close.
In the first-half alone, Taty Castellanos hit the post twice. And botched a free header at a corner. West Ham blew the chance to put daylight between themselves and Tottenham on Saturday. The Hammers were humbled by Brentford, losing 3-0 as they ran out of momentum.
How was Konstantinos Mavropanos' luck? Well, he scored an own goal, after Crysencio Summerville had deflected the ball onto his own post. Mavropanos thought he had equalised a few minutes later, heading in at a free-kick, only for VAR to disallow the goal for offside. It was that sort of afternoon.
By the time Igor Thiago made it 2-0 — brushing home a penalty after El Hadji Malick Diouf clearly felled Michael Kayode just inside the box — the home fans here were taunting 'Lincoln away, ole, ole...'
When Mikkel Damsgaard added a sublime third, it was 'Cheerio, cheerio, cheerio'.
We're not quite there yet, but there's no question this was a crushing blow to West Ham's hopes of survival. How are your nerves, Hammers?
TIME FOR NUNO TO TWIST?
Nuno Espirito Santo picked the same starting XI for a fourth successive game here. There's something to be said for consistency of selection, especially at this stage of the season, but might this have been a match too many?
Callum Wilson is the most clinical of West Ham's out-and-out strikers. He also scored the winner last time out, against Everton.
By the time he made it on to the pitch here, in the 65th minute, Brentford were 2-0 up and the game was all but done.
As for the centre forwards Nuno did go with, Pablo looked completely ineffective and wasted the one half-chance he had in the first half. Castellanos' luck was out, yes, but he wasted a good chance or two and had to be taken off after losing his head in the second half.
Perhaps Nuno could do with shuffling his pack in the three games remaining. Lest things become stale at exactly the wrong time.
HAMMERS NEED CALMER HEADS
Castellanos was hooked shortly after picking up a booking for a reckless foul on the touchline, clearly made in frustration at his luckless afternoon and West Ham falling 2-0 behind. Earlier on, after his wayward header, he threw himself to the ground in performative anguish.
Minutes after Castellanos' booking, Crysencio Summerville thundered into a wild challenge, giving Brentford — always threatening at dead-ball situations — a free-kick in a dangerous area.
Then there was the penalty — Diouf going to ground for no apparent reason and taking out Kayode. It all spoke to a team feeling the pressure.
The stakes are high, of course. And better that your players care too much than too little. But Nuno will need calmer heads to prevail in the weeks ahead.
KAYODE REIGNITES BEES' EUROPEAN DREAM
The drama of the relegation battle distracted a little from the fact Brentford had an important mission of their own here. Their win ended a run of six games without one, and lifted them, temporarily at least, into sixth.
What a job Keith Andrews has done this season. And what a right back they have in young Kayode. The Italian was a constant threat, forcing Mavropanos' opener, winning the penalty, and generally making a nuisance of himself all game. Hell of a long throw, too.
Do not be surprised if massive clubs are circling come the summer.
MATCH FACTS AND PLAYER RATINGS
Brentford (4-2-3-1): Kelleher 7; Kayode 8, Van den Berg 6, Collins 7, Lewis-Potter 7 (Hickey 90min); Yarmoliuk 7, Jensen 7.5; Ouattara 7 (Furo 90), Damsgaard 8 (Dasilva 90), Schade 6.5 (Ajer 80); Thiago 7.5. Subs not used: Valdimarsson, Pinnock, Janelt, Donovan, Nelson. Scorers: Mavropanos 15 (og), Thiago 54 (pen), Damsgaard 82. Booked: Kayode. Manager: Keith Andrews 8.
West Ham (4-4-1-1): Hermansen 5; Walker-Peters 6 (Wan-Bissaka 65, 6), Mavropanos 6, Disasi 6, Diouf 5 (Traore 74, 6); Bowen 5.5 (Magassa 88), Soucek 6, Fernandes 6, Summerville 7 (Scarles 88); Pablo 5; Castellanos 6 (Wilson 65, 6). Subs not used: Areola, Scarles, Todibo, Kante, Lamadrid. Booked: Summerville, Castellanos. Manager: Nuno Espirito Santo 5.5. Referee: Craig Pawson 6. Attendance: 17,194.
