West Ham: Nuno Espirito Santo refuses to blame team selection as Brentford ruin home debut | OneFootball

Keith Andrews’ visitors had not won on the road all season

Nuno Espirito Santo has refused to blame his team selection for West Ham’s 2-0 defeat to Brentford.

Midfielder Andy Irving was handed his first home Premier League start, 780 days after signing for the club, while Jean-Clair Todibo was brought back into the fold, having not featured in either of Nuno’s first two matchday squads.

The new manager’s changes failed to have the desired impact as the visitors dominated the first-half, taking the lead in the 43rd minute through Igor Thiago, and Nuno made three substitutions at the break.

The Hammers boss was, however, adamant in his post-match press conference that he had made the right decisions.

“I think it worked out. The idea for the game was that we had to work together, compact. It does not matter if [I start] Andy or other players.

“I think we have to train and achieve that all the players have their opportunities to show themselves so we can try to find better solutions.

“At half-time we changed it because things stop working and we look[ed] for another situation to try and get more solid, more compact in behind [and] not allow too many chances so we can bounce back from the result.”

Nuno admitted it was a poor performance from his side, who remain without a point at home this season, and said he was concerned about his players’ ability to compete physically.

“Credit to Brentford, [they are] a tough team,” Nuno continued.

“We know Brentford's physicality very well; that they have put in the game but we have to win individual duels. We have to win our own battles individually so I'm concerned about that.”