Has the West Ham 'feel-good factor' been 'popped'?
[Getty Images] After watching West Ham United win against Everton a week ago, I quietly considered that they had the character to survive this season. But, having seen them lose at Brentford on Saturday, I have somewhat retreated from that thought process. Let's be clear, West Ham would have won at Gtech Community Stadium on another day.
They created more than enough chances and it is actually genuinely baffling that they didn't score at all. But having been forthright in the first half, they lost their way after half-time. The penalty they conceded was the start of a number of moments of ill-discipline, culminating in conceding a third goal which wasn't a good look for the Hammers' defence.
There was a feeling leaving the stadium that the feel-good factor Nuno Espirito Santo's side had built up had been popped, but we won't know how true that is until they face Arsenal next weekend. Get a positive result in that game and the perception changes dramatically again.