West Ham have conceded at least two goals in each of their last six Premier League games and their record since the turn of the year is particularly poor - something Manuel Pellegrini hasn't been able to sort out.
Since 2019 began, the Hammers have leaked a massive 26 goals in just 16 games, including three of those in one game to Huddersfield Town back in March and three away at Wolves in late January.
The return of Fabian Balbuena from a knee injury to the heart of the defence hasn't helped stop the leaking of goals. Since he was brought back in against Chelsea, six goals have gone past him in three games.
Lukasz Fabianski, an absolute shoo-in for Hammer of the Year this season, has only managed five clean sheets this season which is the same as already relegated Huddersfield Town and only one more than also already down Fulham.
How West Ham's draw with Leicester proved where Mario Husillos' transfer focus must be
The defence has particularly been a problem in 2019 and it's something that Pellegrini has constantly barked on about in post-match press conferences. But, he and his players have so far been unable to stem the flow and it won't get any easier this weekend as the Hammers travel to Spurs for the Saturday lunchtime kick off.
Below is a selection of quotes from Pellegrini where the manager has bemoaned the quality of his team's defending this year.
April 20 after 2-2 draw with Leicester
"We also conceded two easy goals, including one in the last minute of the game. In most part of the second round, we are conceding two goals in each game, which is too much.
"We used space in the wrong way in our defending. We were pressing too high with our centre-backs without any reason and they have good players and put the ball into this space.
"In general, I think the team played well, but you cannot concede so many goals. We can defend better."
West Ham forced to admit defeat to move Southampton kick off time at London Stadium
March 30 after 2-0 defeat to Everton
"I think, if you review the performance, the first half and the second half were exactly the same, so it doesn't matter the names [who played and those who did not] or if we changed two players [at half-time] because they were all making mistakes, especially in defending in the first 15 minutes.
"In attacking areas, we prepared a lot of movements, but we didn’t do them.
"We are conceding too many goals from set pieces. The first one, we just didn't jump for that ball. You can concede a goal inside five minutes and still change the face of the game and create chances, but we didn't do it and all the players had a bad day.
March 16 after 4-3 win over Huddersfield Town.
"Maybe they do not score too many goals but they are dangerous at set pieces and their first two goals came from set-pieces."
March 9 after 2-0 defeat at Cardiff City
"We must review what we are doing when we are playing away because in four [of the last five] away games we didn't score one goal and we conceded too many.
West Ham fans have a brilliant new chant to celebrate the London Stadium claret carpet
"For both goals, we were not concentrating and if we had, we could at least have played badly and drawn nil-nil. I think that was a very bad performance."
January 29 after 3-0 defeat at Wolves
"We conceded two from set pieces and had no chances of our own.
"If in 90 minutes you don’t create one clear chance you must be very frustrated, maybe you can be not very creative but defend very well, but we defended poorly as well.
January 2 after 2-2 draw with Brighton
"We’re frustrated because we knew before the game that the most important way that Brighton score goals is from set-pieces, specifically corners.
"They had seven goals from corners and we worked on that, but we allowed them to score two goals. I do not remember one chance from Brighton to score otherwise during the whole game."
West Ham U23s boss Liam Manning heading Stateside to join New York City FC
Keep up to date with the latest news, features and exclusives from football.london via the free football.london app for iPhone and Android .
Available to download from the App Store and Google Play .
