Nuno Espirito Santo's winless start to his tenure as West Ham manager has extended to four matches following a 2-1 defeat to Leeds United at Elland Road.
Leeds took an early lead with goals from Brenden Aaronson and Joe Rodon within the first 15 minutes, while West Ham's Mateus Fernandes scored a late consolation goal that proved insufficient to alter the outcome.
Currently sitting second from the bottom, West Ham is three points away from safety after suffering seven defeats in their first nine matches of the season. Nuno has managed to secure only one point from a possible 12, with his record including a draw against Everton and losses to Arsenal, Brentford, and Leeds.
Hired to replace Graham Potter, who was dismissed after just eight months, Nuno faces the challenge of preventing West Ham from experiencing relegation, which would mark their first absence from the top flight since the 2011-12 season. The last West Ham manager to fail to win any of their first four games was Manuel Pellegrini in September 2018.
Nuno's previous role at Nottingham Forest ended in September due to a breakdown in relations with the club's owner, following disagreements regarding transfer policies. If he does not quickly improve West Ham's performance, he risks facing another dismissal within the same season.
Leeds, having recently lost 2-1 to Tottenham and ending a 23-match unbeaten streak at home, bounced back with a strong performance that highlighted the challenges facing Nuno and his team.
Former West Ham goalkeeper Rob Green expressed concern about the team's situation, stating, “They’re in trouble. This is perilous. This is a moment where you can go and sink without a trace.” He emphasized the need for players to take responsibility, particularly highlighting the absence of Jarrod Bowen, who is often seen as a key player.
The match saw West Ham concede two early goals due to defensive lapses, with Aaronson scoring from close range after a defensive error, and Rodon capitalizing on poor marking to head in a corner. West Ham has now conceded nine goals from corners this season, the highest in the Premier League.
As the match progressed, Nuno made tactical changes, including bringing on striker Callum Wilson, but West Ham's fortunes did not improve. A goal by Paqueta was disallowed by VAR for offside, and a missed opportunity by Tomas Soucek further compounded the team's struggles. Despite Fernandes' late goal, Leeds managed to hold on for the victory, leaving West Ham firmly in the relegation zone.
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