West Ham’s old issues resurface in first game under Julen Lopetegui despite significant defensive reinforcements as they lose 2-1 to Aston Villa at home

There may be a new manager in the home dugout of the London Stadium but old problems remain.

West Ham ended last season under David Moyes on a run of 18 league games without a clean sheet. 

That is now 19 after Julen Lopetegui‘s Hammers conceded after just three minutes and 40 seconds, with Villa’s Amadou Onana allowed a free header from two yards out. 

West Ham’s defence was cut open far too easily and had Villa been more clinical the scoreline could have been more damning.

The Hammers have signed three defenders this summer, but only Max Kilman was deemed fit to start against Villa, with Jean-Clair Todibo and Aaron Wan-Bissaka on the bench. 

West Ham target Jhon Duran scored the winner for Aston Villa just minutes before the final whistle

Julen Lopetegui could only watch on as West Ham conceded inside five minutes of his reign

In fact, only two of their eight new signings started. Holding midfielder Guido Rodriguez was the other.

‘There are a lot of new players but a lot of them arrived late,’ Lopetegui said. ‘We have players who are not ready to play 90 minutes.’