Said Benrahma’s stunning strike against former club Brentford hands West Ham 1-0 victory as David Moyes’s side keep up their unbeaten pre-season campaign
- Said Benrahma left Brentford last October and has come back to haunt them
- The Algerian’s 30-yard strike midway through the second half proved the winner
- David Moyes is still yet to welcome back several Euro 2020 first-team regulars
- The win comes off the back of West Ham’s 6-2 victory against Celtic in Scotland
- The hosts had an opportunity to equalise when Shandon Baptiste struck a post
- The Premier League new boys kick off the season against Arsenal on August 13
A stunning Said Benrahma goal on his return to Brentford saw West Ham maintain their unbeaten pre-season campaign with a 1-0 victory in west London.
Benrahma, facing his former club for the first time since leaving back in October, beautifully curled the Hammers in front just past the hour mark and his sumptuous strike was greeted with loud applause from the Brentford supporters.
David Moyes is still yet to welcome back first-team regulars Declan Rice, Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal for pre-season, but will be pleased with the early form shown by his team.
Said Benrahma’s brilliant curling strike was enough to see off former employers Brentford
Benrahma was congratulated by captain Mark Noble after a superb winner against his old club
The winger caught up with his old boss Thomas Frank after the encounter in west London
Last week’s 6-2 thrashing of Celtic was an education in counter-attacking football, while victory over the Bees was a much more dogged display.
Moyes made just one change during the whole 90 minutes in an excellent pre-season run-out against the Premier League new boys.
Brentford talisman Ivan Toney played the last half an hour as he bids to follow up his 31-goal season in the Championship by ensuring the Bees don’t endure an immediate return to the second tier.
There were plenty of promising signs for Thomas Frank, who made a whole cluster of changes throughout as their preparations for the season opener in less than two weeks time stepped up.
Shandon Baptiste struck a post with 20 minutes remaining, before a brilliant weaving run couldn’t yield the finish to match as West Ham were pressed further back.
David Moyes was without a number of first-team regulars but will be pleased with the display
Premier League new boys Brentford will start the season at home against Arsenal on August 13
But it was left to the brilliance of Benrahma to provide the match’s real moment of quality.
Mark Noble pounced on a wayward pass out from the Brentford defence before releasing the Algerian.
He showed quick feet before unleashing a magnificent strike which sailed over David Raya’s head, as the Brentford fans once again stood to applaud the brilliance of their former hero.