Oh how West Ham United and Nuno Espirito Santo could do with a primetime Jermain Defoe leading the line right about now.
This is no slight on Taty Castellanos or Pablo Felipe – Nuno hailed the West Ham newbies as they made their Premier League debuts – but Tuesday’s potentially season-defining 2-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest rather summed up the club’s entire, nightmarish campaign.
Some good moments. Plenty of opportunities wasted. And then a late, and highly controversial, dagger to the heart.
Tomas Soucek felt the penalty award was a ‘joke’ – Alphonse Areola clattered into Morgan Gibbs-White as Forest were gifted an 89th minute winner – but had West Ham United displayed a much-needed clinical edge at the other end, a bonafide relegation six-pointer might not have had to be decided in quite such heartbreaking circumstances.
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Jermain Defoe, the former Hammers striker and one of the most clinical finishers in modern Premier League history, would have fancied his chances of putting away the opportunities which fell to Castellanos and particularly a wayward Jarrod Bowen.
Even when the home side did show some quality – Crysencio Summerville slammed a brilliant volley past Matz Sels to spark wild if brief celebrations – the VAR was there to ruin the fun.
Jermain Defoe singles out Crysencio Summerville after West Ham United lose to Nottingham Forest
Summerville’s finish was one Defoe himself would have been proud of.
Summerville hasn’t scored a Premier League goal all season. In fact, you can go back to October 2024 for the last time he found the net. For Julen Lopetegui’s West Ham against Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United. Now that ages it.
That 18-game barren run appeared over when he smashed home from the edge of the box. However, a tight offside against Castellanos in the build up would deny the luckless Dutchman.
On a night when West Ham’s defenders outperformed their forwards, Defoe could not help but feel a great deal of sympathy. Especially as Forest would equalise moments later. Only at West Ham could you celebrate your team going 2-0 up and then be bemoaning a 1-1 scoreline in the blinking of an eye.
“I think Summerville, he was the one really where I thought if West Ham got a chance of doing anything, it would come from him,” Defoe tells Premier League Productions, the £30 million signing from Leeds having forced the opener when his wicked corner was turned in by Murillo.
“I mean, it comes to him and it’s a fantastic finish. Then, obviously, when you watch it back you see it [was offside].”
Some have argued that the goal should have stood because Milenkovic made a clear attempt to tackle Summerville, rebounding the ball into Castellanos’ path. The Premier League backed referee Tony Harrington’s verdict, though, on a night when tight margins and contentious calls went Sean Dyche’s way.
“It’s a tackle and [Castellanos] is in the offside position, you know. He’s off, it’s the law,” Defoe accepts.
“Even though at the time, you think it’s a bit tight. It’s a little bit harsh, that. But listen, the law is the law. And it’s unfortunate for West Ham but that’s sort of how it’s going at the minute. Just no luck.
“But it was a fantastic finish from Summerville. Just unlucky.”
Still, the fact is that there have been five assists and only one goal in 38 West Ham appearances for the big-money signing from Elland Road. Even if that Forest stunner had stood, this would still be far from acceptable given the fee paid.
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Tomas Soucek defended Alphonse Areola after penalty call
It is in these moments where seasons are defined and fates are sealed. If the 3-0 battering at Wolves felt like an end-of-days disaster, the roof caving in and the sky turning thick black with apocalyptic smoke, that Forest defeat was arguably even more painful.
Even when West Ham are playing well, when they are defending solidly and creating chances, the universe still finds a way to deepen the gloom.
“For me, it is a joke,” a furious Soucek told Sky Sports in the aftermath of that late penalty call. “I just saw it again and I think we can have 20 penalties per game if it is like that.
I came to the Premier League because I thought it was the toughest league in the world and we are all fighters and warriors, but this looks more like basketball when you can’t touch the player.
“This is what I saw.
“[Areola] is the same in the dressing room. He didn’t know who was fouled. He came for the ball, I think I cleared it and that was already out. We didn’t know why there was VAR and then the penalty, so it was tough for all of us.”
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