The danger couldn’t have been any more obvious to West Ham, whose analysts will have spent all week examining Brentford’s tactical strengths and frailties to the nth degree.
What they really needed to be keeping check on was the clock. Because against Brentford, who have forged a reputation as the league’s fast starters, you have to be on your guard from the very off.
Two weeks ago, away at Manchester City, it took Yoane Wissa 22 seconds to open the scoring against Manchester City. At Tottenham last week they proved it wasn’t a fluke. Rather Bryan Mbeumo showed it was a ploy, finding the back of the net after 23 seconds.
Mbeumo’s wait against West Ham was a little longer, though the very rich reward made sure it was worth it. 38 seconds after referee Simon Hooper tooted his whistle for the first time this afternoon, Mbeumo was afforded the 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, one that saw the hosts become the first team in Premier League history to score in the opening minute in three consecutive games.
It was also a sucker punch West Ham sorely needed to avoid after a bruising week which began with them capitulating in the first half against Chelsea before suffering a demoralising 5-1 defeat at Liverpool in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday. But credit to Julen Lopetegui’s side who continued their unbeaten start away from home with a show of second-half resolve.
They took full advantage of Brentford’s slightly more unwanted record. That of being the team that has dropped more points from wining positions since the start of last season than any other top-flight side.
Tomas Soucek applied the finishing touch to a clever passing move before wheeling away in delight towards the visiting support in the far corner. Lopetegui remained motionless on the bench but will have known exactly how important that strike was to quieten his early critics.
He would have been especially pleased given he had barely made his way gingerly out onto the touchline before watching his side fall behind. The tweak of his right calf suffered after jumping in frustration at Anfield hurt, but more painful would have been the manner in which he saw his side give Brentford an early upper hand.
Kevin Schade was afforded the time and space to bring down Kristoffer Ajer’s clipped pass. The danger could have been cleared still when the ball was crossed to Fabio Carvalho. But the diminutive Portuguese attacker rose higher than the rest to nod the ball Mbeumo’s way. With plenty still to do, the 25 year old manoeuvred his body and finished with aplomb after just 38 seconds, volleying past Alphonse Areola for his fifth goal of the season. A lengthy and somewhat inexplicable VAR check followed but failed to reprieve West Ham.
Almost 25 minutes had passed before the visitors mustered their first attempt on goal, but a better opening presented itself shortly after. Only Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen managed to get in each other’s way as they worked their way into the Brentford before Antonio eventually dragged wide.
Mbeumo should have put the hosts two ahead when Wan-Bissaka was caught the wrong side of the ball while defending Sepp van den Berg’s cross. Instead he headed over and took a whack for his troubles.
But it was the visitors who started the second half brighter and an intricate one-touch move involving Tomas Soucek and Bowen ended with Antonio squeezing the ball back to Soucek, who was able to stay on his feet just long enough to finish past Flekken.
That was the highlight of a rather lowkey second half which had no shortage of endeavour but lacked quality. Brentford had two late penalty shouts but referee Hooper correctly waved those rather desperate appeals away.
More to follow