Many promises were made when West Ham moved to the London Stadium but at no point did anyone say anything about constructing a team with an unrivalled inability to repel set-pieces.
There was, of course, a lot of big talk about how leaving Upton Park would take the club to the next level. Karren Brady, who is facing calls from furious supporters to step down as vice-chair, even kept a straight face when she uttered that line about delivering a “world-class stadium for a world-class team” all those years ago. Who was she kidding? At this rate supporters would simply settle for some defenders who can head the ball away, some midfielders who can run and a manager capable of inspiring a team whose morale is at rock bottom after a dreadful start to the season.
The outlook is grim. West Ham are languishing in 18th place after losing four of their five games, have not won at their unloved home since February and are considering whether to part company with Graham Potter after his side were handed a third successive derby defeat by Crystal Palace.
There was a sense of the walls closing in on Potter as full-time approached and supporters chanted for him to go. To concede seven goals in five games from corners is unforgivable. Oliver Glasner admitted that Palace were intent on winning as many set-pieces as possible. The Austrian’s diagnosis on West Ham, who were behind when Jean-Philippe Mateta scored from Daichi Kamada’s corner shortly before half-time, is that they are probably suffering from a psychological block every time the ball comes into their area.
