West Ham United manager Graham Potter has rallied for support from the club fans, after they suffered a 3-0 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
The Hammers have started the season poorly and Saturday’s defeat at the London Stadium means they have now lost four of their five matches in all competitions this season.
A 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest before the international break had eased the rising pressure which had followed consecutive league defeats to newly-promoted Sunderland and Chelsea in the league.
Another late collapse in the second round of the Carabao Cup, when they conceded twice in the last 10 minutes of the game meant Potter’s side suffered an early exit from the competition.
“In the end, the scoreline is a difficult one for us. The second half went away from us quickly, I thought the first half was good. We showed our attacking intent”, Potter said.
“There were positives in the first half but we made a mistake in the second half, the second half was really uncomfortable. We have had to suffer. The team is coming together and we have to be patient with them. Focus on the positives and move forward.”
Tottenham had a first half goal by Cristian Romero ruled out by VAR, before they scored three times in 19 second half minutes to grab the win.
Pape Mata Sarr opened the scoring with a header from debutant Xavi Simons’ corner kick, the fifth goal West Ham have conceded from such position this season.
Tomas Soucek was sent off for the home side after a high tackle on Joao Palhinha, before Lucas Bergvall added a second with a brilliant header.
Micky Van de Ven added a third in the 64th minute as West Ham failed to win at their home stadium for a seventh consecutive match.
“I understand [fans’ frustration], the scoreline is the scoreline. Of course every one is upset. From our perspective, we have to look at the positives”, Potter added.
“We have played two games at home against two top sides. We are a new team and need to stick together.”
The Hammers host Crystal Palace next Saturday while Tottenham face Villareal in the UCL on Tuesday, before facing Brighton in the EPL next Saturday.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
