A game too far for tired Hammers

Brentford 2 West Ham 0

This was always going to be a difficult game after the exertions of Thursday night and so it proved. West Ham looked flat throughout and are paying the price for Moyes' refusal to strengthen the squad in the January window.

Mbeumo's early shot parried by Fabianski indicated the way the game was going. A header from Soucek is West Ham's only effort on goal in the first half while Brentford create a series of chances. To make it worse Zouma goes off injured, which is a major worry for Thursday.

The second half sees two preventable goals.The first is a flick from a throw-on as Mbeumo gets behind Cresswell to beat Fabianski at his near-post. The second is the result of Antonio losing the ball in Brentford's half, a cross coming in and Toney getting between the centre backs to score with a free header.

The Hammers did have Soucek almost connect with a corner and sub Benrahma fire a late deflected effort on to the roof of the net, but that was about it. A bus stop in Hounslow has done the double over West Ham.

So now the Irons have to concentrate on the difficult away leg against Lyon and six games after that to try and ensure we finish in the top six. But long-term a small squad isn't sustainable in modern football and we really need to invest in the summer.