Hammers creak, Millwall revive, Bees and Fulham have positive days: Your weekend roundup
West Ham's second home defeat in a row has taken the wind out of their promotion sails - casting doubts on whether Nuno Espirito Santo is the right man to guide them back to the Prem.
They followed up last week's 3-2 loss to Southampton with another three goal concession - West Brom winning 3-1 at the London Stadium. The Irons have dropped to eighth in the table.
Jarrod Bowen cancelled out a goal from Felix Horn Myre, but the Baggies hit back at the start of the second half through Jmmy-Jay Morgan and added another through Callum Styles - both the result of huge defensive lapses.
"Many things went wrong. It was a bad day," lamented the Hammers boss. "The first moment West Bromwich had a chance they scored and after that it was very difficult. We've conceded six goals in two games and the priority is to fix it. We have to try and find a solution. Up front we have talent, but we can't concede [so many].
Asked about the fact some Hammers fans joined in with Albion fans singing that Nuno was going to be 'sacked in the morning' he said: "This is the reality. We can only change this if we win games. That's the solution. Results. We have to improve our game. Every day is pressure. It's disappointing because we want to improve things and win matches."
While there was gloom in east London, the mood was much brighter in the west as Brentford helped themselves to a routine 2-0 win over an ailing Nottingham Forest at the Gtech and Fulham fought back for an uplifting and perhaps unexpected 1-1 draw at an in-form Aston Villa.
An own goal from Nikola Milenkovic after half an hour put the Bees in front and Igor Thiago sealed the win with a goal after 76 minutes. It was only the Brazilian's second league goal of the campaign but he did also score in the midweek League Cup defeat at Sunderland.
"We've had some good wins this season and I think that's right up there," said boss Keith Andrews. "The way they set up we had to be patient and to nullify their key players which I think we did in the main today. I think you have to be smart when you play against this team
"We 've got really good options from the bench and I think we're growing and showing a level of maturity, a level of street-wise behaviours. How we deal with games, momentum in games when it's not going particularly well."
In the Saturday night match at Villa Park, a first-half goal from former Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson seemed likely to usher in another win for Aston Villa, who defeated Man City in their previous home game, but Fulham - who were fortunate to see a John McGinn penalty come back off the crossbar before the opening goal, hit back just past the hour to level - thanks to an own goal from Villa keeper Zion Suzuki, who dropped the ball into his own net.
Whites boss Alvaro Arbeloa was delighted with his team's performance, particularly their second half showing. "We were more aggressive, we controlled the tempo of the game and we had so many chances to score," he said. " I'm very proud of my players because they showed ambition and character and we played our way - in the way that we believe.
"I think we are growing as a team and improving every week. The most important thing is how we played against a Champions League team in their stadium. My players are believing in the way that we play. They are fighting, they are working. We are just starting a long journey, I hope."
In the Championship, West Ham's rivals Millwall secured a much needed win - overpowering struggling Derby 4-1. But Charlton's winless run extended to 10 games as table toppers Middlesbrough beat them 3-0 at the Riverside.
The Lions hit three in the opening 17 minutes, with a double from Kyle Lisbie and one from Luke Cundle. Jake Cooper made it four late on before Derby netted an even later consolation. The win was only their second in eight games as they seek to get a stuttering campaign back on track. They are 12th in the table now.
"We all know we needed it," Millwall boss Alex Neil said of the win. "Our start was excellent. You could probably see that part of it was some pent-up frustration from all of us.
"There have been certain games that we've played recently where we've probably not got what we deserved. We needed to show what we are capable of."
Will Lankshear bagged a double for Boro with Seb Berhalter also on target to consign Charlton to a fruitless trip to the north east. The Addicks failed to land a shot on target.
"We are constantly in games and there are moments where, if we don't score, they will sooner or later because we're not defending well enough," said boss Nathan Jones. We've been doing the basics well since I've been here. Two and a half years, and now we've stopped doing those things.
"Last year we had that desire to keep clean sheets and at the minute we're not showing that desire."
The Addicks will aim to end their poor run tomorrow night when Bolton visit the Valley. They also host Sheffield United at the weekend.
The Addicks are now in 20th place on 14 points, five points and two places above the relegation zone. Watford are just below them and three points worse off after letting a 2-0 half-time lead at Norwich City evaporate.
Myron Boadu hit a double for the Hornets but the game was lost 3-2 after goals from Ben Chrisene, Anthony Musaba and Paris Maghoma. That makes it six defeats in seven for the struggling men from Vicarage Road.
Under-pressure boss Alessio Dionisi said: "It's difficult to explain the difference between the first and second halves. Football is crazy. The match changed after five minutes in the second half and I didn't understand why. We arrived late in every situation. I watched too many mistakes in the second half."
As for QPR, Richard Kone followed up last week's treble with another goal goal at Southampton, but the Hoops were well beaten this time, 4-1. Kuryu Matsuki, Cameron Bragg and Keven Schlotterbeck gave the Saints a three goal lead before Kone responded with a thumping strike. But an injury time goal from Welington secured a comprehensive home win for the Saints.
Julien Stephan said his team started well but was frustrated by the second half. "The main disappointment I have is the start of the second half and I don't know why we started like we did," he said. "The first 20 minutes was very poor for us technically and we lost a lot of balls. We had to stay in a low position and against a team with this quality they killed the game in this period."
In League One, there was a handsome win for Leyton Orient - 3-0 v Cambridge United at Brisbane Road - but defeats on the road for AFC Wimbledon (2-1 at high-flying Stockport) and Bromley (3-2 at at Wigan).
Rarmani Edmonds-Green got the ball rolling for the O's - a fine way to mark his return after more than a year out of action - and second half goals from Jaze Kabia and Aaron Connolly secured a comfortable victory at the BetWright Stadium.
"This is a good benchmark for us to work from," said happy boss Richie Wellens. "I've had to keep changing things but now, with the majority of players fit again and coming back, we'll have our best squad available. This team still has so much more to give. Hopefully we can go again next week in the FA Cup."
Jayden Stockley put the Dons ahead at Stockport just after the interval but goals from Jack Diamond and Ethan Ennis gave the home side all three points. They are just two points behind league leaders Huddersfield, while Wimbledon lie 18th, just three points above the drop zone.
"They're a hard side. I think they'll be right at the top of the league come the end of it," said AFC boss Johnnie Jackson. "It was hard for my team but I think we gave them a proper game.
"After we scored I thought we were really in the ascendancy and probably needed to go on and get a second but they they hit back. I'm pleased that the performance level is miles better.
"The last two performances, we've looked like a Wimbledon team, but we want to pick up points as well and I think we will if we turn up and put on performances like we did today."
Bromley are now bottom of the table after their defeat at Wigan. Kamarl Grant got the opener for them but it needed a goal from George Saville in first half stoppage time to make it 2-2 at the interval.
Chris Saydee and K'Marni Miller had put Athletic 2-1 up. Brad Burrowes, on loan from Aston Villa, netted what proved to be the winner just before the hour mark.
Caretaker boss Byron Webster said: "It's very poor goals that we're giving away at the minute. We had a lot more balls in the box than previous weeks and we kept the attacking phases going a lot more but the poor goals we are conceding are hurting us a lot.
"We are just missing that little bit of quality, that little bit of luck to get us over the line. Sucker-punches are hurting us."
Barnet missed out on a win at Crewe after conceding a late equaliser at the Mornflake Stadium - Zac Williams putting through his own net five minutes from time. A stunning Tom Knowles strike on 34 minutes had threatened to earn the Bees all three points.
Boss Dean Brennan said: "The finer details for some of our younger players, who are obviously just starting out in the game, needed to be taken on board a little bit better. It's not cost us [entirely] but probably not allowed us to win the game.
"But I thought we were resolute. We defended well, with our two centre halves outstanding. Both teams tried to win the game and we have to be respectful of the point."
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