Hammers Get Result At The Gtech

West Ham United picked up their first ever top-flight result at The Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday afternoon, as they came from behind to secure a 1-1 draw with Brentford.

Only Jean-Clair Todibo, Max Kilman, Tomáš Souček and Jarrod Bowen retained their places from the 5-1 defeat to Liverpool three days ago, as Julen Lopetegui made seven changes with Alphonse Areola, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Emerson Palmieri, Guido Rodríguez, Mohammed Kudus, Lucas Paquetá and Michail Antonio all being restored to the starting line-up, while youngster Luis Guilherme was named amongst the substitutes.

Thomas Frank’s Bees have become accustomed to scoring early in recent weeks and they did it again here when Bryan Mbuemo produced a rocket of a shot which Areola couldn’t keep out meaning that the hosts had scored within the opening minute once more but, at least there was still plenty of time for the Irons to find an equaliser.

The visitors set about trying to find one quickly and Kudus was unlucky not to fashion one when he firstly shot over, before seeing a second attempt blocked. Both Rodríguez and Bowen then tried their luck but, in the end, they couldn’t notch a way back into the game.

The best chance that Lopetegui’s men had in the first-half was when Souček played in Kudus who in turn tested home goalkeeper Mark Flekken, only for the stopper to keep him at arm’s length.

The home side had further chances to increase their advantage but the East Londoners were relieved to see both Mikkel Damsgaard and Sepp van den Berg not make the most of them.

Although Brentford were more alert than their opponents in the first forty five minutes, they knew that they should have perhaps made more of their opportunities. Having said that, they might have paid for not taking them as Todibo had a chance to draw his side level but volleyed off-target, meaning they only went into the break a goal ahead.

Lopetegui made two alterations at half-time, as he replaced both Palmieri and Kudus with Carlos Soler and Konstantinos Mavropanos. The former Arsenal defender was deployed in the right-back position.

The change in formation from the Spaniard seemed to spark his team into life as they started the second-half on the front-foot. Paquetá, Wan-Bissaka and Mavropanos all had their chances but were yet to find a way past Flekken.

The Hammers kept applying pressure and eventually levelled on fifty four minutes when a great team move involving Paquetá, Bowen and Antonio resulted in the Jamaican international’s attempt being blocked but luckily falling back into the path of Souček, who finished past Flekken.

On the hour mark, the hosts made a substitution, as Kevin Schade was withdrawn and Yegor Yarmolyuk entered the fray.

The home side’s change almost made the desired impact, as he went close to beating Areola with a curling effort but thankfully for the travelling support, it went wide.

Lopetegui opted to make a double substitution with time running out, as he introduced both Crysencio Summerville and Danny Ings in place of Antonio and Paquetá.

The former Leeds United player went close to claiming all three points for the Irons with ten minutes of normal time to play but unfortunately, his shot took a deflection on its way to goal and ended up missing the target.

Up the other end, Frank’s men had one more chance to win the contest themselves but an effort from Keane Lewis-Potter was fired straight at Areola.

In stoppage time, Soler had a chance which was well dealt with by Flekken, while Andy Irving came on for Bowen. The Hammers were awarded a corner. However, referee Simon Hooper blew for full-time before it could be taken.

West Ham will look to build on this result when they face a home match with newly-promoted Ipswich Town on Saturday afternoon.