Credit: Imago and Match of the Day

Max Wilkins

Sun 3 May 2026 6:40, UK

West Ham United lost to Brentford on Saturday, and El Hadji Malick Diouf must take his fair share of the blame.

The Hammers have thrown their Premier League future into doubt after falling to a 3-0 defeat at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Nuno Espirito Santo was unable to turn around his side’s shocking record away to the West London outfit, having failed to win a league game in five years.

Things didn’t go the way of the claret and blue outfit, although the performance certainly didn’t help matters against the Bees.

Diouf was particularly poor as West Ham lost to Brentford, with Wayne Rooney left far from impressed by the left-back.

El Hadji Malick Diouf showing ripped apart vs Brentford

The Senegal international has certainly been an interesting figure for the Irons this season after coming in from Slavia Prague in the summer.

He has been seen as one of the best signings in the entire division at times and also looks like a total liability on occasions.

The latter was unfortunately the case away to Keith Andrews’ side as the Hammers were smashed for three.

The full-back certainly had a part to play in two of those strikes, with Rooney left genuinely annoyed by his performance on Match of the Day.

He said: “Diouf gets caught underneath the ball and, really importantly, he doesn’t react. If he reacts he maybe clears that.

“He doesn’t react, and Brentford get a slice of luck getting the own goal. The second goal, it’s a chipped ball to the back post.

“Diouf gets a header, but now he has to sprint, he has to keep him going towards the touchline and not allow him to turn because the minute he allows him to turn, the attacker has the upper hand.

“It’s a good piece of skill, and then it’s a stupid, naive tackle to give the penalty away.”

West Ham now have a concern surrounding Diouf as questions are raised over his performance away in West London.

How did Diouf perform for West Ham vs Brentford?

The 21-year-old started at left-back against the Bees and had a day to forget, as did many of his teammates in claret and blue.

He was removed after 74 minutes, following his conceding of a penalty to allow Igor Thiago to extend his side’s lead in the capital.

Diouf did still manage to win three duels and chipped in with five defensive actions, although losing 100 per cent of his aerial duels isn’t ideal.

He also misplaced three crosses and three long balls, failing to truly get his side pushing in the right direction.

Diouf is young and has work to do, but these sorts of performances could prove to cost the Irons in this relegation battle.