West Ham United's slow start to the Championship season continued with a 1-1 draw away to Watford this week. The result leaves Nuno Espirito Santo's side 19th in the table with only two points from their opening three matches, a position far below expectations for a team considered promotion favourites.
According to a report in The League Paper, Nuno Espirito Santo admits pressure is mounting at the London Stadium but has urged everyone connected with the club to keep the faith. The manager's call for patience comes as West Ham's league standing shows zero wins, two draws, and one loss from their first three fixtures, with a recent form guide reading DLD. They have scored four goals but conceded five, giving them a negative goal difference of one.
Why is West Ham's start so concerning?
The early season form is a major concern given the club's stated ambition of an immediate return to the Premier League. Being seven points behind early leaders Charlton Athletic after just three games represents a significant gap to close. The team's preparations have been hampered by injuries to key players, including Tomas Soucek and Konstantinos Mavropanos, who are currently sidelined. Their absence has been felt in both midfield solidity and defensive organisation, contributing to the five goals conceded. You can check the latest availability on our injuries page.
What did Nuno Espirito Santo say after the Watford game?
Speaking after the stalemate at Vicarage Road, Nuno addressed the growing sense of unease. "We feel the pressure, of course," the West Ham manager told The League Paper. He followed this with a direct plea to the supporters, adding, "We must keep the faith in what we are building." These comments highlight the manager's awareness of the external expectations and his desire to maintain a unified front despite the disappointing results. The draw itself was another case of points dropped from a winning position, a pattern that needs swift correction.
What comes next for West Ham United?
The schedule offers no respite, with a daunting home fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers up next on Tuesday, September 1st. Wolves currently sit 2nd in the Championship table, making this a severe test of West Ham's credentials. A positive result is important not just for points but for morale. The team's underlying performances will need to improve rapidly to match their pre-season billing. Fans can follow the team's upcoming challenges on our fixtures schedule.
This early period has thrown up more questions than answers for West Ham. The combination of a poor points return, a mounting injury list, and a tough immediate fixture creates a challenging environment for Nuno and his squad. How they respond against high-flying Wolves will provide the first real indicator of their resilience and quality this season. The full Championship table and form guide is available on our standings page.
