West Ham United supporters turned on Nuno Espírito Santo after Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Watford extended the Hammers’ winless start to the Championship season.
Boos greeted the final whistle at Vicarage Road before sections of the travelling support directed chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning” towards Nuno, with The Guardian’s match report confirming the reaction from the away end.
The result leaves West Ham with two points from their opening three Championship matches, despite entering the season among the favourites to challenge for promotion.
West Ham fans make feelings clear to Nuno
The frustration from the travelling support was unmistakable after full-time.
A video shared by PurelyFootball captured the chant aimed towards Nuno following another league game without a victory.
Embed here: PurelyFootball X video supplied above.
The reaction represents an escalation in the pressure surrounding the West Ham head coach.
Supporters had already voiced their frustration after the 2-1 home defeat to Charlton, with The Sun reporting that “Nuno Out” began trending among West Ham supporters.
Saturday brought that dissatisfaction directly into the away end.
West Ham started their Championship campaign by surrendering a two-goal advantage in a 2-2 draw at Burnley before losing against Charlton.
The 1-1 draw at Watford means Nuno’s league record now stands at two draws and one defeat from three matches.
West Ham struggle to turn possession into chances
The result alone does not explain the frustration.
West Ham saw plenty of the ball against Watford but struggled to turn possession into meaningful attacking opportunities.
The Guardian reported that West Ham finished with just one shot on target, despite Nuno starting Jarrod Bowen, Manor Solomon, Divin Mukasa and Valentín Castellanos.
West Ham also required a Matthew Pollock own goal to cancel out Amin Nabizada’s first-half opener.
Our full Watford 1-1 West Ham match report looks in more detail at another frustrating Championship afternoon for the Hammers.
Lewis Orford and Joël Piroe were introduced during the second half as Nuno searched for a winner, but West Ham could not find the breakthrough.
The lack of attacking threat was particularly disappointing after Tuesday’s 4-1 Carabao Cup victory over Southampton appeared to offer signs of progress.
Pressure builds after poor Championship start
West Ham travelled to Watford with history heavily in their favour.
The Hammers had won their previous five meetings with Watford, but that run came to an end at Vicarage Road.
ReadWestHam had also backed West Ham to end their winless start against Watford, particularly after the encouraging Southampton performance.
Instead, Nuno remains without a Championship victory.
There is some mitigation.
West Ham’s squad is still being reshaped before the transfer deadline, with the club working on further additions and having already agreed a deal for Viking winger Edvin Austbø.
The wider recruitment picture has also been complicated by West Ham’s search for additional width, with our analysis of the club’s winger situation examining the decisions facing Nuno and the recruitment team.
But patience will only stretch so far.
West Ham are expected to challenge for an immediate return to the Premier League, and two points from nine represents a poor opening return regardless of the ongoing transfer work.
Saturday therefore felt significant.
Online criticism has now become audible dissatisfaction inside the stadium, and Nuno will know West Ham need their first league victory quickly if the pressure is not to intensify further.
