West Ham United

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport journalist

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As dismal as their first-half performance was, Graham Potter will be able to take some encouragement moving forward after a significantly improved display after the interval.

He will also be buoyed by having been able to select Mohammed Kudus, Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta together for the first time since his arrival in early January.

The introduction of on-loan Brighton forward Evan Ferguson for his debut also provided a much-needed focal point, with Michail Antonio and Niclas Fullkrug both still unavailable

Potter's job now will be to add some balance and attacking thrust to a club that outside of the three teams occupying the relegation places, has one of the worst goalscoring records in the English top flight.

The former Chelsea and Brighton boss will also need to address the slow start to games that has been too frequent for the Hammers.

Kevin Schade's winning goal for Brentford was the the 10th occasion this term that they have conceded in the opening 15 minutes.

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West Ham boss Graham Potter, speaking to Sky Sports after today's loss: "The first half was not the performance we want at all. The goal affects the performance too much. We need to learn a lot from that. I was really pleased with the response of the players in the second half when we really pushed. We were a lot more like how we want to be.

"I thought the three [Evan Ferguson, James Ward-Prowse and Ollie Scarles] had a positive impact and changed the dynamic of the team. You can see what he [Ferguson] will bring to the team. There are positives there from the second half.

"We have to move fast and we have to move forward."

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West Ham have kept just a single clean sheet in their last 22 Premier League home games, with their last one coming in a goalless draw with Everton in November.

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West Ham forward Evan Ferguson, has been speaking to Premier League Productions after today's defeat: "I think all the lads as a group know that the first half was not good enough but we responded well if you are going to lose a game, you lose it by playing like we did in the second half.

"I was delighted to get on and just try to help the team. Hopefully we can have better days and get a few wins. We need to watch the game back and look at what we need to improve on."

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

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Seven matches make up Saturday's Premier League action and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

• Leicester City v Arsenal (12:30)

• Aston Villa v Ipswich Town

• Fulham v Nottingham Forest

• Man City v Newcastle - BBC Radio 5 Live commentary

• Southampton v Bournemouth

• West Ham v Brentford

• Crystal Palace v Everton (17:30) - BBC Radio 5 Live commentary

All kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here.

Brentford are not great away from home, while West Ham need to get something after taking only one point from their past three matches.

This has got a draw written all over it, really, but I am not going to take the easy option and go for 1-1 here like my guest has done. That would be boring!

Although Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa are always so dangerous for the Bees, I am going to go with West Ham to win it.

New Hammers boss Graham Potter has taken over a difficult situation and he is finding it hard to get results - he has only won one of his five games in charge so far.

Their struggles are not on him though, and it would definitely boost their chances if he has Jarrod Bowen back from injury soon - he has been training this week.

Bowen scored a hat-trick when West Ham beat Brentford 4-2 in February last year. There won't be as many goals this time, but I am going for the same outcome.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Football Focus' Kelly Somers has spoken to Graham Potter about leaving Chelsea, his ambitions with West Ham and what he has been up to during his time out of Premier League management.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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West Ham have spent a lot of money on a lot of players trying to provide competition for Michail Antonio in the striking slot.

Sebastian Haller and Gianluca Scamacca both arrived with big reputations amid much fanfare - but failed to deliver.

There was an expectation Danny Ings would score goals - but didn't. Going further back, Andy Carroll and Javier Hernandez both had brief spells at the club.

Now, after a long wait since arriving on loan from Brighton, it is Evan Ferguson's turn.

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The Republic of Ireland star has to rebuild his own reputation after a succession of injuries.

However, if Ferguson can get close to the level that brought him a nomination for the PFA's Young Player of the Year award in 2023, he could provide the spark to drive Graham Potter's side into the top half of the table - and maybe earn himself a permanent move to London Stadium.

Potter has already pleaded for time.

But after years of striker frustration, Ferguson has a genuine chance of being the right man at the right time at the right club.

Graham Potter says he "didn't have a plan" after being dismissed from his job as Chelsea manager and says he was waiting for "the right opportunity" during his two-year spell out of management.

Football Focus presenter Kelly Somers delves deeper into what he got up to during that period, why he wanted to wait for a Premier League job, and his ambitions as West Ham United manager.

In terms of getting the Hammers where he wants them to be, Potter said he will "need time" to work on his latest project: "I can have an idea of where I want the team to be, but the reality is different and it is about how you, step by step, get to that point.

"It is not some magic gimmick. It is not some clever culture programme. It is just time.

"The more you understand each other, the more good and bad situations you go through together, you build a trust and understanding of each other."

Watch Football Focus on Saturday at 12:00 GMT on BBC One and BBC iPlayer

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West Ham legend Ronnie Boyce has passed away at the age of 82.

The midfielder spent his entire career with the Hammers, making 341 appearances for the club between 1959 and 1972.

He was part of West Ham's best team in the 1960s alongside World Cup winners Bobby Moore, Martin Peters and Geoff Hurst and scored the winner in the FA Cup final in 1964.

In a statemen, externalt, the club paid tribute to Boyce, who was known as 'Ticker' during his playing days.

"We are so very sad to confirm that our beloved husband, father and grandfather Ronnie passed away peacefully on Thursday afternoon.

"He fought illness in recent years with typical courage, bravery and no fuss, and with such strength. His nickname of 'Ticker', as the strong heartbeat of West Ham's team in the 1960s, could not have been more appropriate.

"He was a Hammer all of his life, from growing up in East Ham to representing the Club as a player and coach across 34 years of dedicated service, and always had time for the fans and people who gave him so much support throughout his time in football.

"He never boasted about his wonderful playing career or achievements, but he was so proud of the fact that he scored the winning goal in West Ham United's first-ever FA Cup victory, and his love of the club and the supporters meant so much to him.

"As a family, we were even prouder of the love, support and dedication he gave us all, and of the quiet, honest, decent man that he was. We will miss him greatly and he will never be forgotten."

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

West Ham boss Graham Potter has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Brentford (kick-off 15:00).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Lucas Paqueta and Edson Alvarez have trained with the squad and are expected to be available and so is Jean-Clair Todibo.

• Winger Crysencio Summerville "has had a setback" in his recovery and is not likely to return until after the international break.

• Potter said he has "had a rest but not too much of one" and added that the squad "have a bit of freshness" to them following a weekend off.

• On new loan signing Evan Ferguson: "He's trained well. He hasn't played loads of football recently, so we have to be careful with that. He's shown his quality, and is ready to help the team, and we feel he'll just get better and better."

• Potter says Ferguson will give him another option going forward as they have "had to adapt at the front end of the pitch" because of injuries.

• He said Saturday's game against Brentford "will be tough" as "they attack and defend well".

• On James Ward-Prowse, who was recalled from his loan spell at Nottingham Forest: "He's come in and done well. He's an experienced player, and I've been really impressed with him."

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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Brentford have scored in all seven of their Premier League games against West Ham. That is the most times they have faced an opponent with a 100% scoring rate in the competition. The Hammers have only played Ipswich more often without keeping a clean sheet (nine matches).

After failing to win any of their first nine away Premier League fixtures of 2024-25 (D2 L7), Brentford have won their past two, and could win three in a row for the first time in the top flight.

James Jones
Fan writer

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We might still be really early in Graham Potter's West Ham reign, but Saturday's home game against Brentford has as an element of 'must-win' about it.

We're 15th in the league and 10 points above the relegation zone, so there are currently minimal fears of a battle against the drop at this stage. Indeed, our aspirations are a lot higher, especially with Potter in charge and really positive signs of progress since he replaced Julen Lopetegui.

But all it takes is a run of disappointing results and there's a chance we could get sucked into something which currently doesn't look likely. With Everton improving under David Moyes and Wolves more than capable of picking up points under Vítor Pereira, it wouldn't be difficult for us to slip further down the table.

We're without a win in three league games and have Arsenal and Newcastle to play in two of our next four games. So the visit of Brentford this weekend and then the home game against Leicester at the end of the month will be huge to our chances of keeping pace with the likes of Manchester United, Tottenham and Crystal Palace, who are all pushing to finish in the top 10.

Three points at home to Brentford will also help boost the feel good factor around the club. The Bees have won just two games on the road all season and have picked up only eight points away from home, only Southampton have fewer away points, so this is the perfect opportunity for Potter and his players to lay down a marker for the rest of the season.

We don't have much to play for other than pushing as far up the table as possible, so beating a side four points above us in the table will provide us with a realistic chance of doing that.

I fear defeat on Saturday could have a damaging effect on what comes next, as it could mean a run of five league games without a win by the time Leicester come to town. By then, confidence could be rock bottom once again.

Find more from James Jones at We Are West Ham, external

Is there something you want to ask about a Premier League club?

Former Premier League defender Nedum Onuoha is ready to answer your burning questions and give his thoughts on some of the biggest talking points for a special Q&A.

Submit your questions here and come back on Thursday for his answers

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We asked you to tell us one thing that is going under the radar at West Ham United at the moment.

Here are some of your comments:

Alan: Andy Irving's emergence and, more so, his signing! He was brought in by Tim Steidten to try to establish a feeder club in Austria, but he now looks like the player we never knew we needed. A new cult hero in the mould of Christian Dailly.

David: Our youngsters. We have had some criticism in the past about our old squad and not playing enough youth. Under Potter we are using the likes of Orford, Irving and Scarles, which represents a sign of change and signifies the potential of our youth players.

Nigel: 'The West Ham Way' - just what is it? We are a selling club, especially when a special player comes out of the academy. We don't give the youngsters an extended run in the first XI, we just give them a token cameo near the end of the match when we are 3-0 down. We pay £25m for a brilliant 18-year-old from Brazil and we don't give the boy a chance. Instead, we threaten to sell him on for half the price we bought him for! I'm rather excited about Ferguson's arrival but, if Potter brings him on, aren't we just developing him for Brighton?

Dan: I'm wondering why we never leave a speedy runner near the halfway line when we concede a corner. That player would keep two defenders occupied, give our goalkeeper an out ball and stop the penalty area being flooded by every player in or around it, thereby offering more attacking opportunities to the offensive team.

Mick: I think we should be talking about the goalkeeper. The fact that Fabianski is still being called upon shows that Areola is suspect in several areas. We need to go after Liverpool's Caoimhin Kelleher. He is a young goalkeeper with a big future. Go get him Graham!

Michael: One good thing: Having James Ward-Prowse back is like a new signing. He should've never been loaned out. He is worth 12-15 goals and assists every season. One bad thing: Todibo and Mavropanos are a total liability. Potter will eventually bomb them out.

New boss Graham Potter has guided West Ham to four points from his three Premier League games in charge so far - but is there something flying under the radar at London Stadium?

You know the Hammers the best, so we need you to tell us the one thing - good or bad - no-one is talking about but should be.

Let us know here

James Jones
Fan writer

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Going into January, it was clear West Ham had to sign a striker at the very least.

There were other holes in the squad, in midfield and defence, but injuries to Michail Antonio, Niclas Fullkrug and Jarrod Bowen left us painfully short in attack.

So the deadline-day loan signing of Evan Ferguson was very welcome, even if it would have been better if he had arrived a few weeks earlier.

There are question marks over the terms of his loan - or lack of terms, for that matter.

The fact it is just a straight loan without any option or obligation to buy the 20-year-old means there is some concern among the fanbase that all we will be doing over the next five months is developing Ferguson for Brighton. If he is a success, he will head back to Brighton and only they will benefit from that.

I do not see it like that, though, because I am not really concerned about what happens in five months' time. I am far more concerned about the present and seeing Graham Potter guide this hugely talented group of players closer towards where they should be in the league table - which is the top 10 at the very least.

He needed a striker to do that and he has got one he knows very well - it was Potter who gave a 16-year-old Ferguson his senior debut at Brighton.

That is what makes this signing so positive. Over the years, we have signed so many strikers with big names and big expectations who did not fit the system the manager wanted to play.

It is the opposite with Ferguson. We know he is going to fit because he has worked in a Potter system before. It is a system that helped launch his career.

Add to that the return of James Ward-Prowse and others like Jean-Clair Todibo, Lucas Paqueta, Crysencio Summerville, Edson Alvarez and Fullkrug returning from injuries, and Potter will finally have a proper squad to work with.

That is enough to keep me positive about the immediate future. We will worry about the summer when it comes.

Find more from James Jones at We Are West Ham, external

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Gianfranco Zola, ex-Chelsea forward and former West Ham manager, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live about the Blues' 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge on Monday:

"It was a good result for Chelsea, the performance wasn't as good as other times but that was due to the way West Ham played.

"West Ham played very well, they were organised and closed the space, especially in the middle of the pitch, and Chelsea had a lot of problems getting the ball to Cole Palmer's feet in dangerous areas."

On whether finishing in the top four this season would be considered success for Chelsea: "It would be a very good success. There are teams that are outperforming [expectations] and other teams are as strong as they are.

"Chelsea have a lot of potential within the team, but there are also a lot of young players. They need to get to a better level and get accustomed to playing to a high level. It's something that is not easy to get."

On Graham Potter's arrival at West Ham and their current position: "Their second half against Villa and Monday's performance were very good. We need to consider that they're playing without strikers at the moment, which is a big thing, and also they're missing influential players.

"I was really pleased with how they played, they made it so difficult for Chelsea.

"So far Graham has been doing very well and I'm very happy for him."

Listen to Tuesday's edition of BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast on BBC Sounds

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

BBC chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions on all things Premier League.

Curley63 asked: Morning Phil. I would like your assessment of West Ham's January transfer activity. While a striker was desperately needed and it's nice to see James Ward-Prowse back, I can't help feeling that we are worryingly short of a decent centre half. Kilman is playing well in an ageing/makeshift back three, but other than that there is Mavropanos, who to me is not Premier League standard and Todibo, who reportedly doesn't want to be at the club!

Phil answered: Potter is most definitely steadying the ship and encouraging academy players. Also I am pleased Steiden has gone after the disaster of last summer!

I certainly accept your point that West Ham might have done more, certainly in defence, but I truly believe they have done a really smart piece of business in bringing in Evan Ferguson on loan from Brighton.

He is a genuine talent, still only 20, who has been held back by injuries. He will also enjoy working under Graham Potter again. I also think James Ward-Prowse is another who could flourish under Potter.

I think Tim Steidten's days have been numbered for a while. He had an uneasy relationship with former managers David Moyes and Julen Lopetegui and it is clear Potter will want his own people around him and to move the club forward in his own way.

The Hammers still have a very talented squad, though. Now it is up to Potter to get the best out of them – but I really like that Ferguson deal.

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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West Ham have confirmed technical director Tim Steidten's departure, which was inevitable when new manager Graham Potter confirmed Kyle Macaulay had arrived as head of recruitment.

Chairman David Sullivan sided with Steidten in his frosty relationship with former manager David Moyes - withdrawing a contract offer to the Scot, who left London Stadium at the end of last season.

The idea was to let Steidten, who made his name in Germany with Werder Bremen and Bayer Leverkusen, oversee a revolution in the way West Ham played, while at the same time maintaining a challenge for European qualification after three successive seasons in Uefa competitions.

But the appointment of Julen Lopetegui as Moyes' replacement raised an eyebrow and while, on paper, a £100m-plus recruitment campaign looked quite good, on the pitch it was shown up to be lacking in speed and quality.

Steidten has been heavily criticised for spending £27m on injury-prone 31-year-old striker Niclas Fullkrug, who has scored two goals in 11 appearances, only five of which have been starts. The Germany international is currently sidelined for an extended period with a hamstring injury.

By the beginning of December, it was a matter of when, not if, Lopetegui was going to be sacked.

Like Moyes, the former Spain boss stopped dealing with Steidten, whose position became untenable once Potter was installed.