Pardew said he was "aghast" after the Carling Cup defeat

The Hammers suffered their eighth defeat in a row at Chesterfield and it was claimed that Brown had been angry with Pardew and the players afterwards.

But Brown told the club website: "I went down the tunnel to make sure that Alan was OK.

"Nothing negative or critical was said," insisted Brown.

"I put my arm around him and told him that everything would be fine.

"It is disappointing that one or two sections of the media have made such suggestions but they will not distract us from working hard to turn round the team's current situation."