Angry West Ham fans left Graham Potter in no doubt of their feelings about his shock Niclas Fullkrug decision with two chants at Brighton.
The Hammers found themselves 1-0 down with less than 15 minutes on the clock and that’s how it stayed at half-time after another underwhelming first half performance.
As has been so often the case, though, West Ham improved in the second half.
West Ham’s loyal travelling army thought they were going to witness a first Premier League win for nearly two whole calendar months when Mohammed Kudus and Tomas Soucek scored second half goals to turn the game on its head.
Potter’s West Ham misery continues at Brighton
Especially with Soucek’s goal coming with just eight minutes left.
Hammers fans have been here before, though.
Not only did West Ham concede a soft equaliser – they then inexplicably collapsed to allow Carlos Baleba to win it as not one player closed down his last gasp long range strike.
It means the Hammers have now won just three of Potter’s 15 games – relegation form.
West Ham fans have been giving Potter grace since he arrived given they were clear of any real threat of relegation.
But many have started to make it clear they’re not impressed with what they’re seeing from him.
Striker Niclas Fullkrug was hailed a hero by West Ham fans for his brutally honest rant about the team last weekend.
The Hammers threw away a 1-0 lead to draw at home against relegation cannon fodder Southampton.
Fullkrug labelled the team “s—” in a furious TV rant.
Football supporters – not just those of West Ham – applauded Fullkrug’s refreshingly candid take on a dismal performance and season.
Potter drops Fullkrug after angry West Ham outburst
But Potter didn’t see it the same way – criticising Fullkrug, saying he should have kept his feelings private.
All eyes were on the team sheet to see whether Potter would drop Fullkrug – his only decent bona fide striker option.
Hammers fans were convinced the manager wouldn’t dare.
That is exactly what the ex Brighton boss did, though.
And angry West Ham fans aimed two chants at Potter after his shock Fullkrug decision.
Angry West Ham fans aimed two chants at Potter over Fullkrug
As news filtered through that Fullkrug had indeed been dropped, Hammers supporters were furious.
They quickly let Potter know too.
In a clear and pointed message to the manager, the travelling claret and blue army chanted: “Niclas Fullkrug, he says what he wants.”
Throughout the first half West Ham fans made sure they got their message across about Fullkrug by aiming another chant at Potter.
As soon as Brighton took the lead, furious Hammers fans chanted at Potter: “Get the German on the pitch” repeatedly.
Fullkrug proved right as Potter feels wrath of Hammers fans
The chants grew in their ferocity too, being replaced by boos at half-time.
Potter didn’t dare prolong the Fullkrug farce, bringing him on at half-time.
The Germany international helped West Ham be more effective on the counter attack as they turned the game around.
But the pathetic, insipid collapse perfectly sums up not only their time under Potter or the season as a whole but the entire last season and a half.
Last week Fullkrug said the team didn’t deserve the fans continuing to turn out in big numbers and getting behind the team after what has been served up.
Potter can put him on the bench all he wants, it won’t deflect from the fact everyone knows Fullkrug is right.
