Bermuda's coaches will have learnt little more than they already knew about the teams they play today following St Etienne's comfortable win at the National Sports Centre last night.

The French side were as good as everyone suspected they would be, so no real insight there. West Ham United on the other hand had one of those days that strikes team's once in a while.

Uncertain at the back, unable to get anything going up front, and tormented by St Etienne striker Brahim Toutai, the English team displayed little of the passing football that is their club's trademark.

"It was a disappointing performance from us, I expected a lot better," said boss Tony Carr. "I thought we started very nervous, the boys are away from home, in a tournament type situation, and the boys were, very, very nervous.

"And I think it showed, especially our defending players. Our whole philosohpy is get the ball, pass it, and move it, and we couldn't get that going, and we didn't do that today."

In a scrappy opening spell, both sides had chances to take the lead, with Dylan Tombides going close for West Ham, and St Etienne skipper Maxence Chapius hitting the side netting with header after drifting in unmarked from a corner.

West Ham had a tough time at the back generally, with Toutai pulling their defence apart with some ease, and it was no surprise when he put his side ahead after a fine pass Sofiane El Moudane left with him just goalkeeper Jake Larkins to beat.

Larkins had a night he is likely to want to forget in a hurry, the second goal was entirely down to his error when he fumbled an attempted pass from Toutai right into the path of Biel Aouchavia.

For their part the English side created little to really threaten their opponents, especially with Chapius in commanding form at the centre of defence, and even when they did get a shot away, St Etienne goalkeeper Jeremy Vachoux was more than equal to it.

"I thought we conceded the goals in a soft manner, especially the second goal, was obviously an horrendous goalkeeping error, but they're kids and they do make mistakes," said Carr. "I'm disappointed with the result, but more importantly I was more disappointed with the performance.

"I thought we played a little bit better the second half and created a couple of good opportunities, but just couldn't quite find the net, and on the night St Etienne deserved the win.

"They were better than us on the night, but I know we can get better, so hopefully we'll learn from that and get better as the weekend goes on."

West Ham United: J Larkins, D Labonne, J Yeboah, L Chambers, K Hause, B Turgott, C Adams (K Sadler, 40), J Powell (T Miles, 55), M Famino, D Tombides, E Lee (C Alexander, 46), D Wooton.

St Etienne: J Vachoux, C Chausse, J Neyemeck, F Thalauy, M Chapius, S El Moudane, B Aouchavia, F Mizza, B Toutai (S Lachi, 68), K Nassuf, N Ejenavi, Y Kouadi, F Lawson, L Beccu, A Mathevet.

Referee: A Francis

Man of the match: B Touati