Brentford has won the last five head-to-head matches against West Ham, and if this run continues at London Stadium, it could be a very unpleasant evening for Nuno Espírito Santo. The Hammers’ new manager is already under enormous pressure after a poor start to the season, including possible fan protests. With only four points from seven games, West Ham are 19th in the table and have the second-worst goal difference in the league. Brentford, four places and three points ahead, are traveling with more confidence after a decent performance against Manchester City. West Ham will still be without striker Niclas Füllkrug, while the visitors, despite the bitter loss of Antoni Milambo (cruciate ligament rupture), will have two important offensive players back in Reiss Nelson and Gustavo Nunes.
- Venue: London Stadium, London
- Date and time: October 20, 2025, 9:00 p.m.
- Competition: Premier League (Matchday 8)
Despite Brentford’s clear historical dominance, the betting markets rate this match as evenly balanced, suggesting a close game. The “Both teams to score: Yes” bet seems particularly attractive, as both teams show defensive weaknesses. Brentford has conceded goals in all of its last five games, West Ham in four out of five. At the same time, both teams have dangerous offensive players such as Jarrod Bowen on the home side and Kevin Schade and Igor Thiago at Brentford. A more conservative option is “Under 1.5 goals – 1st half,” especially since West Ham has failed to score in the first half in its last five league games and both teams often start cautiously. X2 (draw or Brentford) is recommended as a hedge, given the unstable situation at West Ham and Brentford’s personnel reinforcements. As always, bet responsibly with limited stakes of no more than 1 to 3 percent of your bankroll per single bet.
West Ham Form & Record Check
West Ham are in a worrying state of form. Since the change of manager, Nuno Espírito Santo has only managed a 1-1 draw against Everton and a 2-0 defeat at Arsenal, with the team looking completely out of sorts at times. Particularly problematic is their lack of threat in the first 45 minutes, where they have failed to score a single goal in their last five league games. The defense has been vulnerable, conceding at least one goal in 80 percent of recent games. To make matters worse, the atmosphere is tense: rumors of a possible fan boycott are weighing on the environment, prompting Nuno to publicly ask for support. His predecessor, Graham Potter, had only won six of 23 games, a record that further adds to the pressure. To avoid slipping further into the relegation zone, West Ham urgently needs points and, above all, must become more stable defensively.
West Ham is expected to line up in Nuno Espírito Santo’s 4-2-3-1 formation. Areola will be in goal, with Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kilman, and Walker-Peters likely to defend in front of him. Souček and Ward-Prowse could form the double six. Bowen, Paquetá, and Summerville are expected to form the attacking triangle behind the striker, with Wilson as the only experienced striker available due to Füllkrug’s injury. Rumors of a possible winter transfer for Joshua Zirkzee are currently having no impact on the squad.
Brentford Form & Record Check
With seven points and in 16th place, Brentford is also having a mixed start to the season. The relegation zone is only one point away, with Burnley level on points in 17th place. They have won only one of their last five games, a 3-1 home win against Manchester United at the end of September. Their defensive vulnerability is striking: in all of their last five games, the team has conceded at least one goal, and in four of those games they were already behind at half-time. The offense has been more stable, scoring in four of the last five games, with only Manchester City keeping them scoreless in a 1-0 defeat. There is positive news from the infirmary: Reiss Nelson and Gustavo Nunes each played 45 minutes for the U21s and are available again, and Hickey is also back in training after taking a knock in an international match. However, the absence of €17 million new signing Milambo weighs heavily. Coach Keith Andrews is still waiting for his first away win, which makes the trip to West Ham even more explosive.
Coach Keith Andrews is likely to stick with his usual 3-5-2 formation. Kelleher, who recently made headlines with his impressive penalty save rate, is expected to start in goal. Collins, Ajer, and Pinnock should form the back three. Kayode is planned for the right wing and Henry for the left, while Henderson, Janelt, and Jensen could provide stability in the center. Andrews is likely to rely on Schade and Thiago in attack. Nelson and Nunes are available again after playing for the U21s, but will probably start on the bench. The bitter loss of new signing Milambo has already been mentioned. Hickey is not yet ready to play after taking a knock in an international match, although he is already back in training. Andrews has plenty of alternatives on the bench in Carvalho, Lewis-Potter and Damsgaard.
West Ham – Brentford Head-to-head & statistics
The historical record clearly favors Brentford: three wins, one draw, and only one defeat in the last five games. West Ham last lost at home in February 2025, 0-1. Brentford’s accuracy in these matches is remarkable, scoring at least one goal in all five games, often before halftime. West Ham conceded at least one goal in each of these matches. The games have mostly been high-scoring: four out of five games ended with more than 1.5 goals, three of which had already exceeded this mark at halftime. Only the 1-1 draw in September 2024 was an exception. These statistics reinforce the expectation of an offensive-minded game with a high probability of goals on both sides.
