West Ham United secured back-to-back Championship victories with a 3-0 win over Derby County, but the national media were not completely convinced by the scoreline.
Joël Piroe opened the scoring after six minutes before substitutes Edvin Austbø and Mohamadou Kanté struck late to complete another positive afternoon at London Stadium.
The result followed Tuesday’s 4-2 victory over Wolves and delivered Nuno Espírito Santo’s first league clean sheet of the campaign.
Our West Ham 3-0 Derby match report details how the Hammers secured the points.
But Sunday morning’s national coverage contained an interesting warning alongside the praise.
Sky Sports impressed by West Ham quality but spots warning
Sky Sports’ match report described West Ham’s victory as “less decisive than the scoreline suggests.”
That assessment reflects a match which changed significantly after the opening hour.
Piroe’s early goal gave West Ham control, while Jarrod Bowen repeatedly threatened Derby’s defence during an encouraging first half.
Sky also singled out the quality available to Nuno, arguing that West Ham possess a level few Championship teams can match.
However, the report noted that the Hammers lost some of their fluidity as the game progressed.
Their pressing intensity dropped and Derby began to believe they could rescue something before Austbø finally doubled the advantage.
That is the clearest area for Nuno to address despite another victory.
Divine Mukasa catches national attention again
One player who did receive clear praise was Divine Mukasa.
Sky described the teenager as “impressive” and highlighted his technique and vision after he retained his place following the two-goal performance against Wolves.
Mukasa combined particularly well with Taty Castellanos before half-time, helping create one of West Ham’s best opportunities before the break.
We have already looked at why Mukasa is becoming increasingly difficult for Nuno to leave out.
His latest performance only strengthens that argument.
Mukasa’s return also provides another success story for the pathway documented in our permanent West Ham Academy guide.
Guardian echoes concern despite convincing result
The Guardian’s Championship roundup reached a similar conclusion.
Its coverage also stressed that West Ham’s late goals made the final margin look more comfortable than much of the contest had actually been.
The report highlighted how Austbø and Kanté changed the match from the bench after Nuno’s starting XI had lost some of its earlier fluency.
That is arguably both the positive and the warning from Saturday.
West Ham still have improvements to make.
But unlike during the opening weeks of the season, Nuno now possesses a bench capable of changing games.
We examined why Austbø’s immediate impact has created another West Ham selection dilemma after his first goal for the club.
West Ham beginning to show Championship advantage
Seven goals and two victories in five days have transformed the mood around London Stadium.
West Ham are still adjusting to the Championship and Nuno himself accepts that combinations within his rebuilt squad need time to develop.
But the wider coverage points towards an important advantage.
Even when West Ham’s performance level drops, their individual quality and squad depth can still decide matches.
Supporters can track the improving run through our permanent West Ham fixtures and results page.
Two victories do not prove West Ham have solved every early-season problem.
They do, however, suggest Nuno now has considerably more ways to win.
