We react well to defeats as Hammers prepare for FA Cup 5th Round clash West Ham United manager Nuno Espirito Santo emphasized his team’s resilience in the face of setbacks as they gear up for their FA Cup 5th round encounter against Brentford. The Hammers, who recently secured a 1-0 victory over Fulham in the Premier League after a 5-2 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield, are looking to build on their recent performance to advance to the quarter-finals. Santo highlighted the importance of bouncing back from tough results, citing the team’s reaction to their loss against Liverpool as a key factor in their progress. “We’ve been able to react well,” he said. “It’s not possible every time, but bouncing back from poor performances is always important, especially in the fight we’re involved in. We saw against Fulham that the players reacted well after the Liverpool game, so hopefully it continues. What we want to avoid is setbacks, so let’s keep this flow as long as we can.” The manager also addressed the evolving nature of set-piece strategies in the Premier League, criticizing the current interpretation of fouls by referees. “It has changed,” Santo said. “What referees are allowing from set-piece situations is almost crazy. I think they should review it. They need to come to the clubs and speak to the players to explain what is a foul, what contact is, and how far you can go with contact. We’re seeing things that are not normal, and I consider many of them fouls.” The match against Brentford presents a significant challenge, as the Bees are known for their strong set-piece play. The Hammers will aim to replicate their recent success against Fulham, where they displayed composure and tactical discipline. The game will be a crucial test of their ability to maintain momentum in a high-stakes cup run.#fa_cup #premier_league #west_ham_united #brentford #nuno_espirito_santo
Fulham v West Ham: Team Lineups and Substitutions Revealed Marco Silva has made four tactical adjustments to his starting XI for the upcoming match against West Ham, replacing injured and rested players. The changes include Antonee Robinson, Samuel Chukwueze, Tom Cairney, and Josh King entering the squad, while Harry Wilson (injured), Emile Smith Rowe, Ryan Sessegnon, and Oscar Bobb are omitted. Fulham’s lineup features Leno in goal, with Tete, Diop, Bassey, and Robinson forming the defensive line. Midfielders Berge and Cairney are joined by Chukwueze, King, Iwobi, and Jimenez in attack. Substitutes include Lecomte, Castagne, Andersen, Sessegnon, Reed, Lukic, Bobb, Smith Rowe, and Muniz. Nuno Espirito Santo has also reshuffled his squad for the encounter at Craven Cottage, with Jean Todibo and Callum Wilson stepping into the starting XI. This replaces Konstantinos Mavropanos and Soungoutou Magassa in the defensive and midfield roles. West Ham’s lineup includes Hermansen, Wan-Bissaka, Disasi, Todibo, and Diouf in defense, while Bowen, Soucek, Fernandes, Summerville, and Wilson Castellanos form the attacking trio. Substitutes available for West Ham are Areola, Walker-Peters, Kilman, Mavropanos, Adama, Lamadrid, Magassa, Scarles, and Kante. The tactical shifts highlight both managers’ focus on balancing defensive solidity with attacking options ahead of the fixture. Fulham’s inclusion of Chukwueze and King adds pace to their forward line, while West Ham’s reliance on Todibo and Wilson suggests a strategy to exploit counterattacks. The substitutions also reflect the need to manage player fatigue and address specific weaknesses in the opposition’s formation.#west_ham #nuno_espirito_santo #fulham #marco_silva #tete
