David Moyes’ West Ham United have this afternoon been dealt a concerning blow on the personnel front, during the club’s meeting with Brentford.

The Irons, of course, are currently locked in derby action with Thomas Frank’s Bees.

Having seen all of Arsenal, Manchester United and Wolves drop points across the Premier League weekend to date, Moyes and co. made the trip across London no doubt desperate to secure a 2nd three-point haul on the bounce, amid the club’s ongoing pursuit of a top-six finish.

Any such hopes on the part of the day’s visitors, as alluded to above, though, were dealt something of a blow inside the opening half hour of action on Sunday.

This came as a key member of the Hammers’ backline was forced into a premature departure from proceedings.

The player in question? Kurt Zouma.

After pulling up with what appeared to be a hamstring issue, Frenchman Zouma was left with little choice but to limp from the field of play, replaced by Issa Diop for the game’s remaining hour:

Jansson absence explained

West Ham, though, were not the only ones forced to make do without the talents of a key defender for the majority of the action at the Brentford Community Stadium this afternoon.

Ahead of kick-off, it was too unveiled that set to play no part in proceedings was the hosts’ Pontus Jansson.

In a post across their social media platforms ahead of the action getting underway in west London, Brentford confirmed that their captain and defensive leader would miss out owing to a ‘non-Covid related illness’.

 

Brentford vs West Ham United live streaming: Watch Premier League online

Norwich City vs Burnley live streaming: Watch Premier League online