AdminWest Ham’s dramatic 2-2 draw with Millwall at The Den reportedly ended with a heated physical altercation involving players and staff from both sides in the tunnel.
According to ExWHUEmployee, tempers boiled over as the two teams headed back towards their respective dressing rooms. The Athletic also reported a “heated altercation in the tunnel involving players from both sides” after the final whistle.
It was a remarkable contrast to West Ham’s first-half display, when they appeared completely unprepared for the intensity of a derby at The Den.
The Hammers were second best throughout the opening 45 minutes, with Millwall winning the physical battles and exposing a lack of aggression from Nuno Espírito Santo’s side. West Ham went into half-time 2-0 down.
However, the response after the break was completely different.
Nuno demanded greater aggression, while captain Jarrod Bowen helped rally his team-mates. Bowen later admitted West Ham “didn’t compete enough” during the first half.
Mohamadou Kanté and Konstantinos Mavropanos then scored to complete a dramatic comeback, earning West Ham a point.
The reported tunnel incident only added to the drama of an explosive derby. While the scenes will attract plenty of attention, West Ham’s bigger concern should be why it took them 45 minutes to match Millwall’s intensity.
If anything, the comeback showed the fight this squad possesses — but they cannot afford to wait until half-time to find it again.
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