Empty seats told the story long before the final whistle. West Ham United’s 2-0 home defeat to Brentford – a result that could easily have been far heavier – underscored a deepening crisis both on and off the pitch at London Stadium.
The atmosphere was toxic, the boos deafening, and the exodus of supporters unmistakable. Some fans had chosen not to attend at all, part of an ongoing protest against the club’s ownership and direction. Those who remained voiced their frustration as the Hammers slumped to a fifth consecutive home defeat — their worst top-flight run since 1931.
For new head coach Nuno Espirito Santo, winless after three matches in charge, the scale of the task could not be clearer. Managing his first home game since replacing Graham Potter, Nuno admitted his team’s performance fell far below expectations.
“Not good enough. Poor,” he said bluntly. “Brentford fairly won the game — they were the better team. You can see our fans are concerned, and that concern becomes anxiety. That anxiety passes to the players. We have a problem.”
Nuno accepted responsibility for bridging the widening gap between players and supporters.
“It’s up to us to change this,” he continued. “The fans need to see something that excites them, something that makes them believe again. We are the ones who must pull the fans back together.”
West Ham sit 19th in the Premier League, with just four points from eight games. Under Nuno, they have drawn once (at Everton) and lost twice (to Arsenal and Brentford), scoring only once and conceding four.
The defeat to Brentford also marked the first time in the club’s history they have lost their opening four home league fixtures. The performance was disjointed, passive, and short of energy — allowing Brentford, led by inexperienced boss Keith Andrews, to dominate throughout. The visitors registered 22 shots, with only goals from Igor Thiago and Mathias Jensen keeping the scoreline respectable.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher did not hold back in his post-match assessment.
“West Ham were shocking — and have been for a while,” he said. “That squad simply can’t cope physically. Brentford bullied them all over the pitch.”
Ex-Hammers midfielder Gary O’Neil echoed those concerns, suggesting that belief within the squad has evaporated.
“They look lost, completely devoid of confidence or cohesion,” he said. “That performance needs a seismic shift. Nuno has an enormous job on his hands.”
The poor form is only part of the problem. The tension between supporters and the club’s hierarchy has been building for months, driven by dissatisfaction with co-owner David Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady, who have been at the helm for 15 years.
The supporters’ group Hammers United has organised protests calling for both to step down, citing broken promises, lack of investment in the squad and training facilities, and a deteriorating matchday experience.
Many fans have also never accepted the move from Upton Park to the London Stadium, believing the club’s traditional identity and matchday atmosphere were lost in the transition. The stadium’s design, including the athletics track separating fans from the pitch, remains a source of resentment.
Before Graham Potter’s final match in charge last month, approximately 3,000 fans protested outside the directors’ entrance. The discontent has since evolved into partial boycotts, with plans for a large-scale demonstration — expected to draw around 9,000 supporters — ahead of the home clash against Burnley on 8 November.
West Ham’s immediate focus turns to their next Premier League fixture away to Leeds United on Friday, where Nuno is demanding a swift response.
“It’s a challenge for all of us,” he told BBC Sport. “We have four days to change the momentum. We must bring our fans back to support us — and that starts with a big improvement.”
For Nuno Espirito Santo, repairing the fractured bond between the club and its supporters may prove just as crucial as fixing its on-field struggles.
