West Ham fan Neil Fairchild concerned that Hammers defence is showing signs of fragility to add to striking woes

This is a very specific problem with a very specific solution which will hopefully materialise in the next few weeks when Andy Carroll regains fitness.

Just a big a concern now is a defence that has shipped six goals in the last two games.

It seems like only yesterday we were admiring a back four that had kept clean sheets away to Swansea City, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur.

It seemed as though the only way to breach the Hammers defence was via the penalty spot or through a free-kick.

Indeed, set pieces were the route for two of Norwich’s goals in the 3-1 defeat at Carrow Road.

But the signs were already there of a hitherto unseen fragility.

Perhaps the most concerning goal of all was the winner in which Norwich were allowed to waltz through the West Ham defence.

Jussi Jaaskelainen has come in for a lot of criticism.

A rush of blood to the head in two consecutive games has cost us dearly and it is right that he should take a large share of the blame.

But looking at the bigger picture, the Finn has been brilliant over the last 18 months and has won us more games than he has lost.

Part of being a supporter is recognising that everyone is fallible and sticking by them through good times and bad.

At the risk of contradicting myself, I fear that James Collins may never regain the form that made him so popular in both his first and current spell with the club.

Distribution has never been his strong point but it is worryingly evident at the moment.

His rash tackles around the penalty box are starting to become the rule rather than the exception.

It is tempting to look for scapegoats but as the cliché goes, you defend as a team.

That we suddenly look so vulnerable defensively is a consequence of the whole team being out of sorts, not just the back four.

For the first time this season I am worried that Sam Allardyce does not know how to put things right.