West Ham's Premier League survival hopes were dealt a major blow as Brentford reignited their European prospects with victory at Gtech Community Stadium.

With 18th-placed Tottenham not in action until Sunday, West Ham knew victory in west London would pile further pressure on Roberto de Zerbi's side before their trip to Aston Villa.

However, an own goal from Konstantinos Mavropanos and strikes from Igor Thiago and Mikkel Damsgaard condemned the Hammers to a heavy defeat which leaves them only two points above Spurs, who have a game in hand.

Brentford moved up to sixth, a point ahead of Brighton.

The Bees took the lead when Mavropanos beat Michael Kayode to a loose ball inside the penalty area but prodded it off the crossbar and over his own goalline.

Both teams went close in a frantic spell following the opener, with West Ham striker Valentin Castellanos striking the foot of a post before Mavropanos' header from El Hadji Malick Diouf's free-kick was ruled out for offside.

Damsgaard should have capitalised on a poor Mads Hermansen clearance to double the lead, while Brentford top scorer Thiago sent a tame effort straight into the arms of the West Ham keeper moments later.

Castellanos struck the woodwork again with a header from a Jarrod Bowen corner, but West Ham had Hermansen to thank for keeping the score at 1-0 with a superb stop from Keane Lewis-Potter's close-range effort late in the first half.

The Hammers' hopes of finding a route back into the contest were dealt a blow when Diouf scythed down Dango Ouattara on the edge of the penalty area early in the second half.

Tiago sent Hermansen the wrong way from the spot for his 26th goal of the season in all competitions.

Crysencio Summerville rattled the Brentford crossbar late on with a curling drive from the edge of the area, but West Ham's misery was compounded when Damsgaard slid home a late third.

West Ham offered enough as an attacking force against Brentford to suggest they can avoid relegation, but their naive defending could prove costly.

While Mavropanos was unfortunate to see his attempted clearance go into his own net, a rush of blood to Hermansen's head could easily have resulted in Brentford's second.

The Dane was left in no-man's land after charging out of his penalty area midway through the first half and was relieved to see Damsgaard steer the ball wide.

Diouf's rash challenge on Ouattara gifted Brentford another opportunity to double their advantage. He was nowhere near getting a touch on the ball, and whether he needed to slide in is up for debate.

That said, Nuno Espirito Santo's team created enough opportunities to make the scoresheet - or even escape with a point.

Castellanos was desperately unlucky not to find the target before half-time, striking a post twice and having a fierce effort tipped over the crossbar by Caoimhin Kelleher.

A marginal offside call denied Mavropanos a first-half equaliser, while Summerville's late effort almost crept under the bar.

Brentford have defied expectations in their first season under Keith Andrews, but their home form - so impressive in the first half of the campaign - was starting to become a worry.

Andrews' side had not tasted victory in front of their own supporters since beating Sunderland 3-0 in January, although they had lost only two of their previous six games on home soil.

The Bees rode their luck at times but, like West Ham, should have scored more, with Damsgaard and Thiago both missing clear chances.

Sepp van den Berg flashed a header wide late in the first half, but Thiago's penalty settled Brentford nerves.

Most fans would be thrilled at the prospect of Conference League football next season, but sixth spot will be enough for a place in the Champions League if Villa win the Europa League and finish fifth in the Premier League.

Whatever happens, it promises to be an exciting end to the campaign for Andrews and his players.

Brentford travel to Manchester City on 9 May, while West Ham welcome City's title rivals Arsenal to London Stadium on 10 May.