West Ham United

That was more like it. Intensity both in and out of possession. Quick passing. Shots on goal. Movement off the ball. That's what West Ham fans have been asking for - and in the 4-2 win over Brentford we got it.

There has been an element of bemusement among neutral fans and pundits that West Ham supporters have been unhappy with David Moyes of late.

People look at it from the outside in and immediately conclude that we've had no right to moan. That we should just know our place and essentially stop asking for better. We were being told that we should just accept a negative style of football and be happy about it, because we have no right to want better.

But the performance against Brentford was proof we can have better - and that better can also lead to results.

The display was the complete opposite of what we've been served up since the turn of the year. It wasn't perfect - defensively we were still very shaky - but in attack we were quick, intense, ruthless and a lot of fun to watch.

That kind of approach won't always get us results, but it will always give us a chance. If we lose playing like that, fans would be far more accepting than how we've been losing games up to this point.

The key thing now is building on it.

It's no secret that Lucas Paqueta's return from injury will play a huge part in that. We haven't won a league game this season in which he hasn't featured. Couple that with Jarrod Bowen's electric return to the goals and there's a platform there to turn our season around.

With the Europa League returning next week, it may have come at the perfect time.

James Jones can be found at We are West Ham , external

We asked you for your views on Monday's Premier League game between West Ham United and Brentford. Here are some of your comments...

West Ham fans

Chris: A much-needed win and a much-improved performance, which only goes to underline how wrong Moyes has been to sit back and remain passive every game, even when playing at home in front of a full house. If we played like this (even if we lose) every week I wouldn't resent him the way I do. He still needs to go so we can move forward!

Rob: Paqueta's return inspired a performance with passion - despite missing chances, Jarrod Bowen showed his goalscoring prowess, capped off with Emerson's belter. 2024 has started!

Faith: A deserved victory and shows what kind of performance we can put in with a bit of belief. That belief seems to be in the shape of Paqueta, whose return lifted the whole team and fans up a level. It's clear we'll need to keep him fit for the rest of the season. I hope the pressure starts to lift from David Moyes as well so he can turn results around.

Affwell: A great game overall from West Ham who, in the space of 90 mins, showed us everything we’re good and bad at. From fast-paced, attacking football that delights the fans, to an inability to hold the ball, with a sprinkling of nervy defending thrown in. A couple of times I saw David Moyes urging his players forward up the pitch, which was nice to see.

Brentford fans

George: Once again, inattentiveness at the start has come back to bite us. We are playing like the Brentford of old, afraid to take a shot or put in a cross. We keep thinking we should be playing it through the middle but we never use the pace up top. Just punt it forward and run, route one style.

Michael: Bees suffered from a lack of effort and concentration from the players and a lack of motivation from the head coach. Also a very poor recruitment programme is now very much evident in the poor quality of our recent signings, who are clearly not up to Premier league standard.

Jasper: Woeful performance - looked like a Sunday league side at points. Offensively poor and defensively even more so.

Paul: For all the huff and puff we were very poor, defensively awful and can’t keep hold of the ball. Constantly giving it away. Something needs to change otherwise I fear the worst. Chelsea and Arsenal next - could be in the bottom 3 after that...

Image source, Getty Images

Jamie Carragher says David Moyes enjoyed a "big night" in Monday's 4-2 win over Brentford.

Moyes has faced intense criticism in recent weeks over poor form and speaking on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football, Carragher said: "He'll have been coming into this game with a little bit of trepidation about the feeling in the stadium. To win the way they did, it was a big night for David Moyes.

"You play at home, you score four goals, you win in that way - some great goals as well. I think it's been a great night all round for West Ham and more importantly David Moyes."

You can listen to the whole clip here, external

West Ham United manager David Moyes on the fine 4-2 win against Brentford which ended a run of eight games without a win: "Most teams have difficult periods in the Premier League. Manchester City have, Liverpool have, so West Ham are certainly going to be no different.

"We've struggled to get our best team out, but overall if we can get our better players out there we can compete with most teams."

On Jarrod Bowen's first career hat-trick: "I'm really pleased for Jarrod, his performances have gone unnoticed as we've not been playing well.

"Tonight it happened for him, his all-round play, the way he was working, he was a threat all night and hopefully the goals will get him back in (England manager) Gareth (Southgate's) thinking.

"If you can play wide and you're a goalscorer you will be of interest to the international manager.

"We needed to get three points. We played in a much more aggressive fashion tonight.

"Jarrod was back to his best. He started the season really well, then got injured. If he keeps scoring he'll be in that England squad for the Euros."

On his own future, Moyes added: "The big thing for me is to see what happens until the end of the season. I've enjoyed it here."

Did you know?

• West Ham have won a Premier League game against Brentford for the first time, having lost all five of their previous games in the competition against the Bees - scoring more goals tonight than in the previous five matches combined (3).

• Brentford have lost 12 of their last 15 Premier League games (W3). Indeed, since the start of November 2023, they’ve suffered more defeats than any other side in the competition (12).

• Bowen's second goal in the seventh minute for West Ham is the earliest that the Hammers have scored two goals in a Premier League game on record (since 2006-07).

• Bowen has scored 14 Premier League goals this season - his highest tally across a single campaign in the competition (overtaking 12 in 2021-22).

• West Ham’s Emerson both scored (1) and assisted (1) in a single Premier League game for the very first time, while he also created the most chances in the match (4). Only against Arsenal (for Chelsea) in January 2020 has he created more chances in a Premier League game (5).

Image source, Getty

This was a hugely important game for West Ham. Their last game at the London Stadium was a humiliating 6-0 defeat to Arsenal and a loss to Nottingham Forest in their next game really upped the pressure on David Moyes.

The Hammers boss needed a big performance from his players and he got just that, led by the fantastic Jarrod Bowen.

West Ham had not won a game in 2024 before Monday night, with that run coinciding with a goal drought for Bowen.

But he was back to his clinical best with two early goals and a second-half header sealing first senior hat-trick.

Not only was the result and performance good for Moyes, but also for Bowen's chances of being in the England squad for Euro 2024. He is now up to 14 goals in the Premier League.

Jarrod Bowen scored his first senior hat-trick to ease the pressure on West Ham manager David Moyes as his side claimed a much-needed Premier League win over Brentford.

The hosts had not won a game in 2024 before Monday night, with their last fixture at London Stadium a 6-0 loss to Arsenal that saw hundreds of home fans leave at half-time.

But West Ham responded in style as they went 2-0 up inside 10 minutes against the struggling Bees.

Bowen got his first goal in the fifth minute with a strike that went in off the post, before the England forward scored again two minutes later as he slotted in Vladimir Coufal's pass.

Neal Maupay swiftly halved the deficit with a scooped finish, then Brentford had claims for a penalty waved away when Mohammed Kudus nudged Sergio Reguilon over inside the box.

A nervous spell followed as Brentford threatened to level but Bowen headed home his third midway through the second half, much to the relief of the Hammers fans.

Emerson capped a perfect night for West Ham with a fantastic strike into the top corner and, although Yoane Wissa scored a second for Brentford, it was not enough to deny the hosts victory.

West Ham move up to eighth in the Premier League while Brentford stay 16th, five points above the relegation zone.

Were you at the match or did you follow it from home?

West Ham fans - let us know your thoughts on the game here

How did you rate the side's performance, Brentford fans?

Follow all of the reaction here

West Ham take on Brentford in the Premier League at London Stadium in just under an hour and the team news is in.

Follow all the build-up and live text commentary over here

West Ham boss David Moyes has been speaking to the media before Monday's Premier League match at home to Brentford.

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Moyes, who is out of contract at the end of the season, has said he has been offered a new deal to remain at the club: "There’s a contract there for me, I'm the one deciding I want to wait until the end of the season, to make sure everything is correct, and concentrate on this season. I've really enjoyed my four years. I'll see my contract out."

• Lucas Paqueta is back in training, "very close to returning" and "in contention" for Monday which "will give us a boost".

• He is happy with absentees returning: "We had Michail Antonio back last week, we've had Mohammed Kudus back from the Africa Cup of Nations, so it's good that we're getting most of the squad back together."

• On having a full week to prepare for Monday's game: "I hope it keeps busy towards the end of the season because that will mean we've got more European football. But it's been good to have a full week on the training ground and hopefully everyone is fresh and ready to go on Monday."

• Assessing opponents Brentford, Moyes said: "They've always been a really tough opponent. Thomas Frank has done a really good job, but we're quite a few points above them so we must be doing something right."

• On the Bees' star striker Ivan Toney, Moyes added: "The games I’ve seen Toney play, he's played really well. He's a big player for them, I've been impressed by his performances, by his football intellect. He's missed a lot of football but he's come back in great condition."

• On Kalvin Phillips, who has struggled since arriving on loan from Manchester City in January: "Kalvin is doing really well in training. I thought the sending-off at Nottingham Forest was really close to being harsh."

The draw for the last 16 of this season's Europa League has been made.

Roberto de Zerbi's Brighton are set to face Roma, while Liverpool have been drawn against Sparta Prague and Europa Conference League holders West Ham will take on German club Freiburg over two legs.

Here is the full draw:

• Sparta Prague v Liverpool

• Marseille v Villarreal

• Roma v Brighton

• Benfica v Rangers

• Freiburg v West Ham United

• Sporting Lisbon v Atalanta

• AC Milan v Slavia Prague

• Qarabag v Bayer Leverkusen

The first legs are scheduled for 7 March and the second legs will be played a week later on 14 March.

Image source, Getty Images

Kalvin Phillips has had a difficult start to his loan with spell with West Ham United and when you are in that situation you need hard work, dedication, but you also need your team-mates around you on a winning formula.

There's currently uncertainty around the manager, which doesn't help the situation, and with the team not getting results the pressure is mounting. As a player going in to try and get some minutes, Phillips has probably gone in at the wrong time and I feared the move for him from the start.

When you're a loan player you've got extra pressure on yourself to see if the club wants to sign you. Sometimes people will look and say 'he hasn't done it there and we're not going to sign him', rather than looking at what he's done before and the fact he hasn't played for a while.

It's going to take time and the side have struggled recently. What I do know is he is a great professional, has worked really hard and now needs his team to start winning again.

I had this situation when I joined Fulham. In the first couple of games I got an injury, I came back and then I got a red card. It was a three match ban and then when I came back again I had another little bit of a hamstring injury and I remember just thinking 'this has turned into disaster', I was hardly playing any games.

However, I had Chris Coleman as my manager and he was sensational. I couldn't have asked for somebody better at the right time to put his arm around me and saying, 'we'll get there, I've got the belief in you'. I thought that was really good of him and that is what helped me through. He said, 'don't worry, I've got you. You're going to be my captain, you're you're going to be a real leader in this team' and that's what I did.

Phillips will know himself not to over complicate it, not to over try, just to keep it simple and be as fit as you possibly can. Be ready for extra training sessions, extra little details and then just keep going. But, ultimately, you do need the rest of your team to actually perform at a level and get results and that's something we're not seeing from West Ham.

The red card will not have helped. Now he has to sit out and he will need David Moyes to get around him and and look after him, but there's a lot of pressure on the manager at the moment and that is what is strange. He has got enough to be going on with at the moment than difficulties for one player.

Michael Brown was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

Image source, Getty Images

There should be an expectation for West Ham loanee Kalvin Phillips to be "rusty" having played so little football over the past 18 months, according to team-mate Michael Antonio.

The Manchester City and England midfielder joined West Ham in January on loan for the remainder of the season, having struggled to secure a regular place in Pep Guardiola's side.

The 28-year-old has not had the start he would have hoped for with the Hammers; he is yet to win a match and was sent off in last weekend's defeat by Nottingham Forest.

Speaking on the BBC's Footballer's Football Podcast, Antonio said: "The situation is, I was out for three and a half months, I played 75 minutes [against Forest] and I think I had a stinker. I couldn't keep the ball, I couldn't hold up play, it was difficult for me, I was rusty. The guy [Phillips] hasn't played for a year and a half.

"You have to expect mistakes, you have to expect a player being rusty, you have to expect him to take time getting up to the speed of the Premier League because he hasn't really played for a year and a half. These things are bound to happen.

"It is a good thing it is happening now rather than at the end of the season, if it was happening at the end then there are certain things you can say about him as a player. He is getting it out now and getting rid early of the rust so he can bring out the player that he is."

Fulham midfielder Tom Cairney agreed with Antonio and added: "The fans will probably argue he has trained with the elite of the elite for the past year or 18 months, they will say 'you have been training with Rodri and De Bruyne, how can you not go to West Ham and just dominate?’ That is what people will say probably, signing Kalvin Phillips who has played for England and in a Euro final, training with the best players in the world.

"It just shows if you don't play competitive football for 12-18 months you aren't where you want to be or where you were at previously. People need to be patient and then he will get to that level of fitness again."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Here are the key facts and figures before Monday's game between West Ham United and Brentford in the Premier League.

• West Ham have conceded at least twice in their five Premier League games against Brentford (L5) – only Reading have faced a side more in the competition while conceding two or more goals each time (six versus Arsenal).

• Brentford's five Premier League wins against West Ham are the only previous top-flight meetings between the two sides. In English top division history, only three sides have a 100% win rate involving more matches against an opponent – Manchester City v Bournemouth, Arsenal v Reading and Nottingham Forest v Portsmouth (both six).

• The Hammers have lost their past three Premier League matches, failing to score in any and conceding 11 goals. They haven’t lost four in a row without scoring since a run of five in September and October 2006.

• Only Burnley (two) have won fewer points in the Premier League in 2024 than West Ham's three. It is the Hammers’ longest winless run at the start of a year in the league since 2007 (first eight games).

• With Lucas Paqueta starting in the Premier League this season, West Ham have won 10 of 18 matches (56%), scoring 1.7 goals on average in those matches. Without him starting, the Hammers are winless in seven games (D3 L4) and have scored just five goals (0.7 per game).

• Ivan Toney has scored 16 Premier League goals in his past 21 appearances in London (home and away games) for Brentford. In London derbies, Toney has five goals in his past seven games.

A mini-league seems to have formed between the teams sitting 7th-11th in the Premier League table, but which of those can get into the European places?

I would be amazed if anyone can give me that answer at this moment in time with those teams. There are so many questions hanging over that battle - what kind of bounce, positive or negative, will teams have after recent results?

What turn around are we going to have from West Ham? Chelsea are showing little glimpses of improvement in performances at a time they need it so could quickly move up the table with their squad and attacking abilities. Wolves keep surprising everybody. If they went on and got into Europe this season, that would be unbelievable. To get ahead of Brighton, Newcastle, West Ham and Chelsea it would be amazing for Gary O'Neil and the side. With Newcastle, they have the squad togetherness and understanding with Eddie.

The truth is, who do I believe is going to be at the top of it come the end of the season? I really don't know. I couldn't call one, I couldn't say one team are the favourites. You might edge towards Newcastle United with that support they have and home form. When they just get themselves together a little bit, they probably edge it.

If you're looking at who needs those European places the most, that is difficult too.

Chelsea have underachieved if they don't get it, that is just a complete given. Brighton may say, 'well, we were open to push for that and we've got in a European position again'. Newcastle would have huge disappointment after last season. West Ham would look to achieve it and have been in a good position, but would they have said that they would finish above Newcastle United or Chelsea? I don't think they would, but the West Ham supporters will expect them to.

Because of the likes of Aston Villa this season, that's one team everyone can look at and say they have gone and delivered in a big way. You think about Brighton and the complete turn around of the players that they've had, they still just keep sitting nicely, contributing and they could finish seventh and that would be an unbelievable season for them.

Michael Brown was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

West Ham are eyeing a move for Bournemouth's 26-year-old England striker Dominic Solanke, who has scored 14 Premier League goals already this season. (Telegraph - subscription required, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Scroll through social media and you would get the clear impression most West Ham fans have had enough of David Moyes.

Engage with most professionals and they react with incredulity given the Scot delivered West Ham their first trophy in 43 years on a magical night in Prague less than nine months ago.

Moyes, evidently, is in the professionals camp. To him, football, first and foremost, is about winning and, by any measure, in that he has been a success.

Immediately before their current run of eight matches without a victory, West Ham beat Arsenal and Manchester United. In addition this season, they have beaten Chelsea, Brighton and Tottenham. Prior to Moyes' return to West Ham in 2019, the club had finished above their present ninth position twice in 20 years. They are also through to the last-16 of the Europa League, having qualified for European football in three successive seasons for the first time in the club's history.

They have achieved this despite selling skipper Declan Rice to Arsenal for £100m last summer.

Those who are against Moyes say his tactics are negative, he has stockpiled hard-working central midfield players, has let wide players leave so he is playing Ben Johnson on the wing, won't pick youngsters and was unable to get anything productive out of Sebastien Haller and Gianluca Scamacca, international forwards who cost the club £50m.

As ever in polarised disputes, the truth is somewhere in the middle.

Although West Ham used the Rice money pretty wisely, the loss of their talisman is keenly felt. There is a reason why Arsenal paid so much for him and his calmness under pressure is why many think he will replace Harry Kane as England skipper.

Lucas Paqueta's calf injury has robbed Moyes of his most creative force. West Ham's current winless streak has coincided with the Brazilian's absence.

Jarrod Bowen's form at the top of the pitch has dipped markedly. The same is also true of Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd at the back. This has left West Ham exposed.

It means matches have become a grind, with no spark, or youngster, to lift the gloom.

On Monday, Brentford go to the London Stadium. Thomas Frank's men have won all five Premier League meetings with West Ham. Last season, the Hammers didn't even manage a goal against them.

West Ham need to win, otherwise the professionals supporting Moyes will start to go quiet and the fans who want him out will get louder.

West Ham are concerned that technical director Tim Steidten is unhappy at the club and may leave at the end of the season. (Guardian), external

The Hammers have put former Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui, ex-Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper and former Chelsea manager Graham Potter on a list of potential successors to David Moyes, whose position is under threat. (Mail), external

Meanwhile, West Ham, Crystal Palace and Southampton are considering a move for Sunderland's 23-year-old forward Jack Clarke, who is valued at £20m. (Football Insider), external

Want more news? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

We are without a win in eight games in all competitions. We have scored just two goals from open play in that time, four in total. We have failed to beat relegation-threatened Sheffield United and Nottingham Forest. We have been thrashed by Manchester United and Arsenal. We have been knocked out of the FA Cup in the third round by Championship club Bristol City.

All of that, and we are only six weeks into 2024.

West Ham ended 2023 having lost just twice in 12 games, while victories over Tottenham, Manchester United and Arsenal sparked discussions about David Moyes being offered a renewed deal. But now, fans are unfurling "Moyes Out" banners and speculation in the press regarding an imminent change in the dugout intensifies by the hour.

With every passing week, every passing defeat, fans are beginning to turn. They are sick of turning up to watch West Ham defend instead of attack, to watch the opposition play with the ball instead of West Ham, to watch a squad clearly devoid of confidence go out there without any real plan or tactical nous. Of course, they are unhappy.

Yes, Moyes' time at West Ham since he returned has been nothing short of outstanding. Back-to-back top-seven finishes, a Europa League semi-final, three consecutive European campaigns for the first time in history and a first trophy since 1980 were only pipe dreams when he took over from Manuel Pellegrini.

But that does not mean he should stay in the job much longer. He has revived a football club and given it a platform, but it is becoming increasingly clear that that is as far as he will be able to take us. It is difficult to see how he can take us even further, especially now he has already lost a large percentage of the fanbase.

The only right thing to do now is to thank him for his unbelievable service and replace him with a manager who has fresh ideas and the ability to build on what Moyes has built.

Leaving the club now will not undo what he has achieved. His legacy will live on. For now. But the longer he stays to oversee the downfall of that legacy, the weaker it will be for years to come.

James Jones can be found at We Are West Ham, external