West Ham United boss Nuno Espírito Santo has previewed the Championship clash against Southampton on Saturday.
The Portuguese coach stressed the importance of continuing the momentum in another test for his side to prove their promotion credentials.
The good work over the last 10 days sees the Hammers keeping the pace at the top end of the Championship table.
Now those draws against QPR and Millwall don’t seem so bad!
The important thing is to look forward, and for West Ham to maintain the current form.
Nuno previews Southampton
At Friday’s press conference, Nuno Espírito Santo was asked about the strength of his team’s attack – West Ham are the highest scorers in the league with 30 goals to date – to which he responded:
“I’m glad we are scoring lots of goals, and if we continue and end up breaking records it will be a fantastic thing for us.
“But, we are focused on competing, and trying to get the right results. In terms of the number of goals, if we score more than our opponent, then we are happy.
“I think a lot of it has to do with momentum. I think the players are working really well, and of course when they score there is a real boost of confidence, which translates to the next game.
“We hope the momentum is continuous, but we are aware that every game is different, and we have to be ready for every challenge.”
On the Southampton challenge that awaits on Saturday, he said:
“They have a very good squad, with quality players and a good manager, so I’m not surprised that they have started the season well. We know we’re going to face a tough opponent tomorrow.
“We know Southampton have a lot of quality players, and James [Ward-Prowse] is one of them.
“Of course, we have to be aware of all the different situations Southampton might try and create, and as usual we have to prepare for the game by looking at our opponents, and what their strengths and weaknesses are.”
Opportunity for West Ham
On one hand, Southampton is just another game for the Hammers. Every game and every chance to grab three points matters.
That’s true, but there’s an opportunity to create real momentum at the London Stadium.
The Saints game is the first of two at home, and with it, the chance to go 10 league games unbeaten.
If that feat can be secured with a win, it would be fantastic for the promotion prospects, which will require solid form all season long.
West Ham won’t win every game, but there’s a chance to cement a place at the top of the table, and then stay there.
Southampton will provide a tough challenge, but so did Swansea and look how that turned out.
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