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By Henry Clark Published: 01: 54 AEST, 29 September 2024 | Updated: 03: 40 AEST, 29 September 2024 1 View comments The danger couldn’t have been any more obvious for West Ham, whose analysts will have spent all week examining Brentford’s tactical strengths and frailties to the nth degree. What they really needed to be keeping check on was the clock. Because against Brentford, you have to be on your game from the very off. Two weeks ago, away at Manchester City, it took Yoane Wissa 22 seconds to open the scoring against Manchester City. At Tottenham last week they proved it wasn’t a fluke when Bryan Mbeumo netted after 23 seconds. Mbeumo’s wait against West Ham was a little longer, though the reward made it worthwhile. 38 seconds after referee Simon Hooper tooted his whistle for the first time on Saturday afternoon, Mbeumo was afforded the space to unleash a perfect volley into the top corner from inside the box. ‘It’s crazy eh? I need to know if it’s a world record or not, ’ said Brentford boss Thomas Frank, whose side became the first team in Premier League history to score in the opening minute in three consecutive games.   Tomas Soucek rescued a point for West Ham after they fell behind early against Brentford Bryan Mbeumo had given the visitors the lead after just 38 seconds at the Gtech Community Stadium The goal marked third consecutive game in which the Bees have scored in under a minute ‘There is of course planning to it. We have a kick-off strategy and we treat it from game to game. Then, as a mindset and philosophy, we like to straight away be on the front foot and positive. ‘There are some margins going our way when we do it but I want to give credit to the coaching staff and the players. ’ It was an early sucker punch the Hammers could have done without after a bruising week which began with a first-half capitulation against Chelsea before a demoralising 5-1 defeat at Liverpool in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday. But Julen Lopetegui’s side's show of resolve in the second-half ensured they maintained their unbeaten start away from home in the league. They took full advantage of Brentford’s unwanted record of being the team that has dropped the most points from wining positions since the start of last season as Tomas Soucek applied the finishing touch to a clever passing move in the second half. ‘We knew they put this kind of rhythm at the start, they did it two times at Manchester City and Tottenham, ’ said Lopetegui.  ‘After a tough start we had the character and personality to balance the match. In the second half we were better and had the possibility to win the match after a very bad situation. ’ It was, indeed, a very bad start as Kevin Schade crossed to Fabio Carvalho, who was able to nod the ball Mbeumo’s way.  With plenty still to do, the 25 year old manoeuvred his body to volley his fifth goal of the season past Alphonse Areola. It took West Ham 25 minutes to muster their first attempt on goal, but a better opening presented itself shortly after.   But once again Thomas Frank's side were unable to maintain their lead as Soucek levelled  Chances proved hard to come by for both teams after the equaliser as the game finished even BRENTFORD (4-2-3-1): Flekken 6; Van den Berg 6. 5, Collins 6, Pinnock 6, Ajer 6. 5; Damsgaard 6, Janelt 6; Schade 6 (Yarmoliuk 60, 6), Carvalho 7 (Konak 85), Lewis-Potter 6. 5; Mbeumo 7 Subs not used: Valdimarsson, Mee, Meghoma, Trevitt, Roerslev, Ji-Soo, Yogane Goals: Mbeumo 1' Booked: Yarmoliuk, Lewis-Potter Manager: Thomas Frank 6 WEST HAM (4-2-3-1): Areola 6; Wan-Bissaka 6, Todibo 6, Kilman 6. 5, Emerson 5. 5 (Mavropanos 46, 6); Rodriguez 5. 5, Soucek 6; Bowen 6. 5 (Irving 93), Paqueta 6 (Summerville 76), Kudus 5. 5 (Soler 46, 6); Antonio 6 (Ings 76) Subs not used: Fabianski, Cresswell, Coufal, Guilherme Goals: Soucek 54' Booked: Emerson, Kilman Manager: Julen Lopetegui 6. 5 Referee: Simon Hooper 6 Attendance: 17, 050 Only Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen got in each other’s way before the former dragged wide. The visitors started the second half brighter and an intricate one-touch move ended with Antonio squeezing the ball into Soucek’s path. He was able to stay on his feet just long enough to finish past Flekken and secure a deserved and valuable point for the Hammers. Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group