West Ham fans brawl during team's 2-4 loss to Watford
Frustrated West Ham fans turned on each other as the Hammers threw away a two goal advantage at home to Watford
West Ham fans appeared to be doing a good imitation of Arsenal fans circa last season as fighting broke out between supporters during the club’s 2-4 loss to Watford. In just the fourth game of the new season, has the feel good factor surrounding West Ham gone? Or, to use a terrible pun, have the “bubbles” burst for the Hammers?
West Ham had a season to remember last year under head coach Slaven Bilic. The Hammers finished seventh in the table on 62 points and qualified for European play (they have since been bounced out of the Europa League by Romanian side Astra Giurgiu). In addition, a new star was born in the form of French midfielder Dimitri Payet.
West Ham played its final home match at Upton Park last May. After 112 years at the same ground, the Hammers began this season with a new home at London Stadium. The mood around the club was high and there was a real feel good factor about the team.
Heading in to this weekend, West Ham had just one win in three matches. Saturday at home to Watford, things seemed to be going well when the Hammers were up 2-0 after 33 minutes. Then everything fell apart.
Watford leveled the score in first half stoppage time. It got even worse in the second half. The Hornets scored their fourth unanswered goal in the 63rd minute and the mood inside the stadium turned foul.
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Many fans expressed their disgust at the behavior on Twitter.
4 games in to a new stadium and #WestHam fans have turned in to #arsenal fans. The whinging is embarrassing
— Billy Hayes (@Hayesy79) September 10, 2016
Following the match, West Ham issued the following club statement threatening lifetime bans for any fan identified as being involved in the violence.
West Ham will travel to West Brom next Saturday for the club’s next fixture.