The danger could not have been more obvious for West Ham, whose analysts will have spent all week examining Brentford’s tactical strengths and weaknesses to the nth degree.
What they really needed to control was the clock. Because against Brentford, who have built a reputation as the league’s quick starters, you have to be on your guard from the start.
Two weeks ago, at Manchester City, Yoane Wissa needed 22 seconds to open the scoring against Manchester City. Last week in Tottenham they showed that it was not a coincidence. Rather, Bryan Mbeumo proved it was a ploy, finding the back of the net after 23 seconds.
Mbeumo’s wait against West Ham was a little longer, although the big reward made it worth it. 38 seconds after referee Simon Hooper blew his whistle for the first time this afternoon, Mbeumo had space to unleash a perfect volley into the top corner from inside the West Ham box after the Hammers had failed to clear their lines.
It was a historic goal, making the hosts the first team in Premier League history to score in the first minute in three consecutive games.
It was also a low blow that West Ham urgently needed to avoid after a painful week that began with a first-half capitulation against Chelsea before suffering a demoralizing 5-1 defeat at Liverpool in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday. But credit goes to Julen Lopetegui’s side, who continued their unbeaten start away from home with a show of determination in the second half.
They made the most of Brentford’s slightly more unwanted history. That of being the team that has dropped more points from winning positions since the start of last season than any other team in the top category.
Tomas Soucek put the finishing touch on a clever pass before stroking delightedly towards the away fans in the far corner. Lopetegui remained motionless on the bench, but he must have known exactly how important that blow was to silence his first critics.
He would have been especially pleased because he had barely reached the touchline when he saw his team fall behind. The right calf injury he suffered after jumping in frustration at Anfield hurt, but more painful would have been the way he watched his team give Brentford an early lead.
Kevin Schade had the time and space to knock down Kristoffer Ajer’s clipped pass. The danger could have been cleared even when the ball was crossed to Fabio Carvalho. But the diminutive Portuguese attacker rose higher than the rest to head the ball towards Mbeumo. With plenty to do, the 25-year-old maneuvered his body and finished with poise after just 38 seconds, volleying past Alphonse Areola for his fifth goal of the season. A prolonged and somewhat inexplicable VAR check followed, but failed to reprieve West Ham.
It was almost 25 minutes before the visitors had their first scoring opportunity, but a better opportunity presented itself shortly after. Only Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen managed to get in each other’s path as they made their way towards Brentford before Antonio finally went wide.
Mbeumo should have put the hosts ahead when Wan-Bissaka received the ball on the wrong side while defending a cross from Sepp van den Berg. Instead, he walked over and took a hit for his troubles.
But it was the visitors who started the second half brighter and an intricate one-touch play involving Tomas Soucek and Bowen ended with Antonio squeezing the ball towards Soucek, who was able to stay on his feet long enough to finish past Flekken.
That was the highlight of a fairly quiet second half, in which there was no lack of effort but quality. Brentford had two late penalty calls but referee Hooper rightly dismissed those rather desperate appeals.
More to follow