With eight goals conceded and no wins at home in three games, this doesn’t read like a great start for West Ham. Indeed, never before in West Ham’s 129-year history has the club started the season with three consecutive home defeats.
Boasting 53.1% possession and superior stats for shots on and off target are achievements many West Ham fans dreamed of. Yet, in reality, this translated to a 3-0 loss at home to their London neighbours, Chelsea.
It took only four minutes for Chelsea to break the deadlock when Jordan Sancho set Jackson off on the left, and he threaded a low shot through the legs of Areola.
Then, at 18 minutes, Jackson completed a brace by outfoxing Kilman and scoring another goal, which silenced the West Ham crowd.
The Hammers had a strong penalty appeal turned down when Summerville went to ground following a tussle with Fofana. The ex-Leeds winger, making his first full start, looked lively and caused Chelsea a number of problems.
Kudus then had the ball in the net, only to be ruled offside, and Bowen had a good chance saved by Sanchez early in the second half.
However, it was Chelsea who sealed the victory when Cole Palmer fired past Areola.
There will be a post-mortem following this game, and questions will be raised about why Summerville was substituted in the second half, while the introduction of Antonio will reiterate that West Ham lacks a striker—albeit Fullkrug will be pushing for a first-team place when he recovers from injury.
A dire West Ham defensive performance will also come under scrutiny, although aside from Todibo replacing Mavropanos on paper, this was the best line-up Lopetegui had to pick from.
West Ham now languish three points off the relegation zone, not a position the board expected the club to be in at this stage of the season.
After the game, Lopetegui stated, “If you want to compete, you need to be consistent,” yet critics will say he needs to determine his first-team XI. There is an array of players to choose from—Guilherme hasn’t even made the squad yet, having joined from Palmeiras in a £25m deal.
Next up is Brentford away. The Spanish manager remarked, “We have to improve, but it’s the start of the season. We have a lot of time to do this.”
I only hope, for his sake, that the club board also shares his opinion.
I think if he doesn’t win either of his next two league games (particularly Ipswich at home to bring this record to an end) he will start finding himself under a bit of pressure.
At which point we’ll have his mate / appointed cheerleader Guillem Balagué in floods of tears.
If we lose away at Brentford next week the screw will be turning on JLO. I know it’s still early days BUT we are now through 14% of the season already and are showing relegation form I was sceptical about JLOs appointment to begin with and this start to the new campaign has not eased my doubts at all. Hope I’m wrong & he gets things turned around asap. Rob ⚒⚒⚒
We have played three of the top four at home is not insignificant. Those are not easy games at any time.
Conversely we beat Palace and drew with Fulham away.
Liverpool in the League Cup is the other one of the top four so it stays difficult before it gets easier.
It needs to be kept in perspective.
Well said John. I wondered when somebody would recognise that we have lost to three of the teams that will finish in the top 3 or 4. Having said that, yesterday was a debacle which I hope never to see repeated.
We were played through embarrassingly easily indicates that something needs putting right.
At the end of the day though what results would we be expected to get in games against teams in the top four at any time.
The whole thing about top four teams is that they win most of their games, if they didn’t then they wouldn’t stay there.
I’m with you guys. Yes, I’m disappointed with the performance but we need some real perspective. Anyone who has played football knows it takes a while to build a team and embed new tactics. Let’s be patient as I’m sure we will see the positives soon