When Tomas Soucek’s effort grazed a post in the final stages of West Ham‘s defeat at Brentford on Saturday, their supporters could have been forgiven for exchanging exasperated looks.
The 3-0 scoreline at Gtech Community Stadium may point to a comfortable victory for Keith Andrews’ Europe-chasing side, but it tells only half the story.
West Ham struck the woodwork four times – a joint record in the Premier League this season – with Valentin Castellanos hitting a post either side of Konstantinos Mavropanos’ first-half own goal, before Crysencio Summerville slammed a powerful drive against the crossbar with the score at 3-0.
Soucek was first to the rebound but guided his effort against the outside of a post.
Victory would have lifted West Ham five points clear of the bottom three, but instead they have left the door ajar for Tottenham to leapfrog them with victory at Aston Villa on Sunday.
The Hammers remain two points above Spurs, who have a game in hand and are nine goals healthier in terms of goal difference.
“We had chances, hit the post twice, hit the bar and post again,” West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen told Sky Sports. “It’s really disappointing.
“We had good opportunities. On another day we would have got the win. We’ve done a lot of good things.”
Manager Nuno Espirito Santo told BBC Match of the Day: “It’s up to us how we will react from this situation.
“Let’s stick together. We have three games to go. It will go down to the wire.”
West Ham are three points below in-form Nottingham Forest, after Leeds United moved nine points clear of Spurs with a win against Burnley on Friday.
A three-team battle for survival? It is beginning to look that way.
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