Newham Recorder

After felling Nottingham Forest (3-0) prior to the international break, there was little hint of what was to come as the Hammers marked their return to action with a gritty, yet goalless, opening 45 minutes against Thomas Frank’s visitors.

But everything changed for the worse after the interval as Pape Matar Sarr, Lucas Bergvall and Micky van de Ven each netted to secure a 3-0 victory over Graham Potter’s sorry side, who were reduced to ten men after Tomas Soucek was sent off with over half an hour remaining.

"The first half was even - we had good attacks and good moments, which was positive for us," insisted the Hammers head coach.

"We were also solid from a defensive perspective and didn’t give many chances away, while we dealt well with their set pieces, too.

"Our fans were with us at half-time.

"They were really there.

"They appreciated the fact we were in the game and they’d seen a committed, positive performance from a team making some good attacks but after that second half, everything feels negative."

Those supporters were still returning to their seats, when debutant Xavi Simons - a £52million signing from RB Leipzig – whipped over a deep corner to the far post, where the unmarked Sarr nodded home.

Then, on 54 minutes, Soucek was dismissed for a reckless, raking tackle on João Palhinha, whose ripped sock gave referee Jarred Gillett all the evidence he needed to produce an instant red card.

And with the red-faced Czech Republic midfielder still trudging down the tunnel of shame, the consequent free-kick was worked upfield towards Bergvall, who sent a looping 18-yard header over the stranded Mads Hermansen.

The hesitant Hammers keeper again found himself picking the ball out of his net midway through the second period after van de Ven secured the victory that sent Spurs into third spot.

"We made a mistake to concede their first goal," observed Potter.

"We’re talking fine margins at this level and we got punished.

"Then, the red card came along and although there was no intent or speed in Tomas’ challenge, if you raise your foot there’s going to be a potential problem."

With a car park blaze already causing a full-scale evacuation at nearby Westfield Shopping Centre, it certainly looked like a similar fire drill was underway at a rapidly emptying London Stadium, too.

"I get the fans’ frustration and reaction at seeing the scoreline run away from us so quickly after the red card and it all made for an uncomfortable evening – I’m really disappointed and feel for the players and the supporters.

"We’d had a good result at Nottingham Forest but I can understand why there was that feeling today."

With a fan protest planned at Saturday’s match against Crystal Palace (kick-off 3 pm) things are unlikely to get any easier down West Ham way any time soon.

"It’s been tough and, although I don’t think there’s a problem playing here, our home form hasn’t been good for a period of time," conceded Potter whose 18th-placed Hammers have now gone seven matches without a win at London Stadium - a wretched run stretching back to early March.

"That’s something we have to try to change and we’ve got to deal with it by focusing on the positive things, playing well and winning."

Just a fortnight after the Hammers went into the international break off the back of a formidable 4-1 victory over Ipswich Town, Julen Lopetegui saw Spurs beat his fragile team by an identical, sorry scoreline.

“It’s been very frustrating and, as a coach, I have to be concerned,” conceded the shell-shocked Spaniard following the claret and blue capitulation.

“Defensively, we have to do better and focus on our concentration. We need to be calmer, show more personality and display more character.

“If I’m honest, we must have better moments than today. The Premier League season is very long but, only at the end of it, will it be time for us to be judged on where we finally finish.”

Certainly, there was little sign of the things to come, when Mohammed Kudus slotted the visitors in front on 18 minutes.

But it all went downhill for both the Hammers head coach and his subsequently red-carded Ghanaian goal-getter, after that.

Dejan Kulusevski levelled just before the break and, after Yves Bissouma put Spurs ahead early in the second half, an Alphonse Areola own goal plus a strike from the fit-again Heung-Min Son then quickly put the contest out of reach.

“We played one of the Premier League’s best attacking-phase teams but we needed to stay mentally strong after we conceded that second goal because we still had lots of time left to get back into the game,” added Lopetegui.

“When we’re suffering, we must handle these bad moments in a much better way and, for sure, it’s not good to end up conceding three goals in eight minutes.

“The first half was interesting, the players did very well and we can still take away some good things from today but that’s not enough because everybody needs to play well for the full 90 minutes and more in every game.

"We must stay competitive and keep our mentality right until the end. Now we will go away and work very hard for our next challenge."

A fourth reverse of the season leaves the Hammers in 15th-place with eight points from as many games, but they must now face Manchester United at London Stadium on Sunday (2pm) without the suspended Kudus, following his skirmishes with Micky van de Ven and substitute Pape Matar Sarr in a feisty finale.

“It is not good for him or the club and we will speak together,” concluded Lopetegui, who waits to learn whether the enraged 38-cap Ghana international will be banned for more than three matches as a result of his derby dismissal for violent conduct.