Nuno Espirito Santo saw his half-time team talk go out the window almost immediately during West Ham United’s 3-0 defeat by Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Keith Andrews’ side secured an impressive victory over their London neighbours on Saturday afternoon.
Yet, as lopsided as the scoreline may be, the hosts were certainly helped by West Ham United pulling out their shotgun and firing the ammunition directly into their own foot.
Who was West Ham’s WORST player vs Brentford and why?! 👀
El Hadji Malick Diouf was criticised in the build-up to Brentford’s opener – he switched off as Dinos Mavropanos fired into his own net under pressure from Michael Kayode – and it was the left-back who gifted Igor Thiago’s 22nd goal of a prolific campaign just nine minutes into the second half.
Diouf slid in recklessly and wiped out Dango Ouattara inside the penalty area.
Nuno Espirito Santo reflects on Brentford 3-0 West Ham United
Speaking to BBC Sport about a defeat which gives Tottenham the chance to leapfrog the Hammers at Villa Park on Sunday, Nuno Espirito Santo bemoaned what he felt was a turning point in a hitherto even encounter.
“The penalty hurt us. That changed the situation,” Nuno said.
“It hurt us because it goes against what we wanted from the half-time talk; ‘Let’s be positive, let’s go again, let’s try and get control of the game and change the result’.
“It’s unfortunate we conceded from a penalty. It could have been avoided.”
What ADVICE do you have for Nuno after that Brentford battering? 🤬
Diouf has now conceded two penalties as a West Ham player; one against Arsenal in October and another here.
Title-chasing Arsenal are the next assignment facing the relegation-threatened Hammers, and Nuno knows that another error-strewn defensive display may prove fatal.
“It is up to us, how we react to the situation and the noise. We must stick together,” a bullish Nuno added. “We have three games to go. It’s going to go to the wire, so we have to be better and perform so we achieve points.”
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