West Ham vs Brentford: Brentford rose to the 9th spot in the Premier League table after defeating struggling West Ham United 2-0. Two first-half goals from Ivan Toney and Josh Da Silva led to West Ham’s fifth league defeat this season.
The defeat also put West Ham manager David Moyes under pressure.
Before the beginning of the match, the fans and players gave an applause to the deceased, greatest footballer of all time, Pele, with the presence of Brazilian Lucas Paqueta in the center circle of the field, leading the tribute.
The host almost got an opener after Declan Rice’s strike hit the outside of the post. Craig Dawson almost put West Ham ahead from the corner kick, but the header went wide.
West Ham Jarrod Bowen made an attempt on goal but it was deflected off Brentford Mathias Jorgensen
Toney scored in the 18th minute after West Ham defenders failed to deal with Brentford’s long throw.
Toney scored his 20th Premier League goal of 2022, making him just the fourth Englishman in the past ten years to do so after Jamie Vardy, Jermain Defoe, and Harry Kane.
Toney’s goal silenced the West Ham fans, who were cheering up the players in the first 18 minutes.
Ben Mee continued with his excellent defense after putting his body on the line to defend Bowen’s shot, and West Ham’s Gianluca Scamacca, who had the opportunity to put the ball past the goalkeeper, headed it straight to him.
The home team persisted in patiently probing as Emerson tried to shoot past the defenders after Angelo Ogbonna’s ball inside the box, but Raya successfully deflected his near-post attempt.
Da Silva made it two nil before the end of the first half, but the West Ham fans were not having any of it. The West Ham fans booed their own players.
Brentford goalkeeper Raya didn’t have a lot to do in the second half as West Ham’s attack was not intelligent enough to put one past Raya.
Moyes’ team currently sits in the 17th position and is on the same level as Everton.
The victory was not totally a perfect one for Brentford as the star striker Toney was carried off the pitch injured on a stretcher.
In the January transfer window, Brentford needs to get a new striker as a replacement for Toney.
What Next For West Ham and Brentford
West Ham United travels to Leeds United on January 4, 2023, at 8:45 p.m. Moyes needs to start winning matches unless the board brings in another manager.
Brentford welcomes in-form Liverpool on January 2, 2023. Liverpool, who have won four Premier League matches in a row, are a very strong team to beat.
However, the presence of Ivan Toney will cause havoc for the Liverpool defense.
