A year can be a lifetime in football. Just twelve months ago, Nuno Espirito Santo was celebrating taking Nottingham Forest to third in the table with a 1-0 win over Tottenham. Now, the Portuguese manager is staring down the barrel of a first Premier League relegation after his West Ham side suffered a damaging 1-0 home defeat to Fulham on Saturday.
Defensive Woes Prove Costly Yet Again
The decisive moment came late at the London Stadium. With just minutes remaining, a routine clearance from young defender Ollie Scarles turned disastrous. The error allowed Harry Wilson to pounce and deliver a cross for Raul Jimenez to head home his second goal in two games. Scarles was left in tears at the final whistle, a symbol of West Ham's fragile confidence.
This latest setback means West Ham have now gone 15 consecutive matches without a clean sheet. Their only shut-out of the entire campaign came in a 3-0 win against Nottingham Forest back in September. Since Graham Potter was replaced by Nuno, the Hammers have conceded a troubling 23 goals in just 12 games. Only Wolverhampton Wanderers have a worse defensive record in the division this season.
What will frustrate Nuno most is that his defence, marshalled by the under-fire pairing of Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo, had largely contained Fulham until the fatal mistake. Without the foundation of clean sheets, however, their battle for survival looks increasingly desperate.
Fulham's Resurgence Coincides with Key Return
For Marco Silva's Fulham, this was a third successive victory, a run that has neatly coincided with the return of left-back Antonee Robinson. The USA international, back after over two months out injured, delivered a tireless performance, dominating his flank both defensively and in attack.
Robinson's energy and quality in build-up play were pivotal, and he played a significant role in keeping West Ham's dangerous duo of Lucas Paqueta and Jarrod Bowen quiet. His return, along with the solid form of Jorge Cuenca filling in for Calvin Bassey, has provided Fulham with renewed stability. Silva was quick to praise his defender's impact, while also acknowledging the earlier contributions of deputy Ryan Sessegnon.
January Transfer Window is Critical for Hammers
If West Ham are to claw their way out of trouble, the January transfer window is now absolutely critical. While fans have long demanded defensive reinforcements, this match highlighted a glaring issue in attack.
Callum Wilson was benched for a fourth successive game, and with Niclas Fullkrug expected to depart, the Hammers lacked a focal point for much of the match. They created promising situations but were consistently let down by a lack of final-third quality. Jarrod Bowen, playing centrally, is most effective from the right wing, and it is clear Nuno does not fully trust Wilson as his main striker.
When Wilson was introduced in the second half, he immediately improved West Ham's threat, occupying defenders and creating space. Yet, at 33, he is not the force of old and spurned two good chances. Bowen himself fired wide from close range in a game of wasted opportunities.
The discontent amongst the fanbase is palpable. After 15 minutes, chants of 'sack the board' echoed around the stadium as supporters held up red cards bearing the message 'no more BS', a direct protest against vice-chair Karren Brady and chairman David Sullivan. Fulham fans offered a gesture of solidarity with applause, but the disconnect between the board and the supporters remains a deep and troubling backdrop to the on-pitch crisis.
With crunch fixtures against Brighton, Wolves, and Nottingham Forest looming in the next ten days, Nuno Espirito Santo needs to find solutions fast. The bleak picture at the London Stadium is a stark contrast to his fortunes of a year ago, and time is rapidly running out.
