Credit: Imago

Daniel Lewis

Sat 2 May 2026 15:42, UK Updated Sat 2 May 2026 16:00, UK

West Ham United defender Konstantinos Mavropanos was involved in the thick of the action in the first half of Saturday’s clash with Brentford.

Mavropanos put the ball into his own net with 15 minutes played of the Premier League clash at the Gtech Community Stadium.

The centre-back thought he had made amends when heading home soon after in West London, only for VAR to intervene.

It was adjudged that Mavropanos was in an offside position and the goal was therefore chalked off, much to the annoyance of the visiting fans.

The Premier League were quick to provide clarity on both situation as the first half was playing out in the capital.

West Ham go behind to moment of misfortune

Nuno Espirito Santo knew the importance of Saturday’s London derby ahead of a ball being kicked, with West Ham in desperate need of a win – or a point at the very least.

But the Hammers got off to a bad start when Mavropanos inadvertently turned the ball into his own net fairly early on.

Keane Lewis-Potter’s cross was turned against the post by a mixture of Michael Kayode and Crysencio Summerville, before the Brentford ace then appeared to turn it in.

However, replays showed that Mavropanos got the final touch.

This was confirmed in a tweet via the Premier League Match Centre, which read: “The goal accreditation panel has confirmed Brentford’s 15th minute goal as a Mavropanos own goal.”

Mavropanos was involved again soon after when he converted El Hadji Malick Diouf’s cross, but the celebrations were cut short.

Referee Craig Pawson thought it was a goal, but VAR disagreed and Nuno’s men had the goal chalked off.

The Premier League’s next announcement read: “VAR checked the referee’s call of goal – and established that Mavropanos was in an offside position and recommended that the goal was disallowed.”

West Ham unfortunate to be behind after exciting first half vs Brentford

Nuno will not exactly be delighted with what he saw from his side in the first half, but nor will he allow himself to get too dejected.

West Ham had their moments and certainly did not hold back, as highlighted by their nine shots – four of those on target to Brentford’s three.

The Hammers were also desperately unlucky on a couple of occasions with decisions that did not go their way.

But while there is just one goal in the match, it is very much still game on.

Nuno may be tempted to make a change or two at the interval, but there is no reason why the Irons still cannot come away from this match with a win.