Brentford v West Ham: Opposition insight from Standard Sport’s Sam Tabuteau
Brentford v West Ham: Opposition insight from Standard Sport’s Sam Tabuteau As Brentford prepare for their penultimate home game of the Premier League season, we spoke with Sam Tabuteau of Standard Sport to get the inside track on opponents West Ham United. Tabuteau breaks down the tactical approach instilled by Hammers head coach Nuno Espírito Santo, highlights the key players Keith Andrews’ men should be wary of, and assesses how the visitors might approach Saturday’s contest at Gtech Community Stadium. West Ham are 17th in the Premier League, two points ahead of Tottenham Hotspur who currently occupy the final place in the relegation zone.
How the last few months have panned out for them? It has been really promising. Given where West Ham were before, I think they can be relatively pleased Maybe it is a sign of the improvement they have shown under Nuno Espírito Santo that the draw against Crystal Palace recently was a disappointing result and, ultimately, a missed chance for them.
Tottenham are still within touching distance and, within that relegation race, it is looking as though it is going to boil down to those two teams. What is the mood like around the club? I think the mood is positive.
There is still going to be a lot of anxiety, but relegation has been on the mind of West Ham supporters, those at the club and the players for the whole season. It is not as though it has crept on them or taken them by surprise, so they have been able to take it in their stride and now it is about putting points on the board. The home form has really picked up in 2026 and the Hammers are currently six unbeaten at London Stadium.
Do you think that could play into their hands in the battle to stay up? It absolutely could - but, if this was six months ago, I would have said the complete opposite! There was a mutinous atmosphere at London Stadium.