Former West Ham United striker Jermain Defoe has branded the Hammers’ performance against Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday as “lethargic.”
The Hammers slumped to a third straight defeat in as many league games on Sunday as goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Leandro Trossard were enough for Graham Potter’s side to secure a 2-0 victory for the Seagulls at the London Stadium, with a league defeat to Brighton coming just three days after beating Viborg in first leg of their Europa Conference League play-off qualifying tie on Thursday night.
The result means David Moyes’ side are at the foot of the Premier League standings and speaking on the defeat, Defoe, who started his professional career with the Hammers and scored 41 times in 105 appearances between 1999 and 2004, was not impressed by his former side.
READ MORE: Thilo Kehrer's late lunge marred full West Ham debut as Brighton defeat highlights goal concerns
“For West Ham, obviously I understand they played on Thursday night, but [it was] a real lethargic performance to be honest,” said Defoe on BBC programme Match of the Day 2.
“You see in this clip here, Brighton are in a good shape. West Ham have got the ball here, for me he (Vladimir Coufal) is still too slow. You have two against one on the right side of the pitch, the full-back (Coufal) has to drop back earlier. You see here the ball comes out to (Kurt) Zouma, can he play to the full-back quicker? Backs out, goes back to the goalkeeper, far too slow, especially being at home.
“The second clip here, you see (Said) Benrahma has got the ball here, three against one, there is nothing on, he ends up crossing into the box, (Michail) Antonio can’t get into the box and the West Ham players are actually in their own half. It’s a real negative, no energy, lethargic performance by West Ham. I was really disappointed in that performance today.”
Defoe’s thoughts on the result were echoed by former England captain Alan Shearer, who holds the record for the most Premier League goals of all time with 260.
He claimed that despite the game kicking less than 72 hours after their 3-1 Europa Conference League play-off qualifying first-leg win over Viborg, there should have been no excuses for the performance against Brighton.
“Very surprising,” Shearer added. “Even though they did play in midweek, because of the training and because of everything else, there shouldn’t really be a question of tiredness at this stage of the season.”
READ NEXT:
Every word David Moyes said on West Ham's loss v Brighton, Thilo Kehrer, Kurt Zouma and signings
West Ham player ratings: Brighton curse continues as Thilo Kehrer's moment of madness costs side
David Moyes sends message to West Ham’s summer signings after Brighton defeat
David Moyes brutally honest over West Ham transfer 'transition' with stars under scrutiny
David Moyes makes transfer claim amid West Ham’s interest in Chelsea’s Emerson
