West Ham United

West Ham United boss Nuno Espirito Santo spoke to BBC Radio London after the 1-0 win at Swansea City on Saturday.

For the match report, and a written selection of his quotes, click here.

We asked for your thoughts after West Ham edged past Swansea City 1-0 to move within a point of the Championship leaders.

West Ham fans

Mickey: The mark of a good team is to eke out results when needed. A victory away at the league leaders, keeping a clean sheet. Extending the unbeaten run. A very good afternoon.

Sue: Good three points but still struggled in the first half. Can't understand why we always start so slow and defensive. Still not confident that we will get promotion. Need to be more attacking. Second half was better.

John: West Ham were resilient, although luck played its part. We squandered chances to go two or three ahead, Swansea also wasted good chances but overall we got the points.

Emma: Thought West Ham produced a decent result today. Wasn't spectacular by any means, but started with intensity and matched Swansea's energy throughout.

Both teams looked like they had their shooting boots on the wrong feet aside from Mukasa, as it could have ended 5-4 or so. Good result away from home against a team who don't concede many so three points happily taken.

Gavin: Three points most important over the performance which wasn't great. I think there are still starting line-up and in-game management improvements we can do to make games a bit more comfortable. But a great win to close the gap and move into automatic spots which is the sole objective of the season.

Adam: We won today thanks to Swansea being poorer than us. Out front play was poor initially, Pablo totally ineffective in holding the ball up or in the challenge.

Our anticipation was off the mark as the ball constantly eluded us and Swansea will be kicking themselves for not going harder at a team that starts slowly.

Pablo should have secured the win but contrived to fluff the best chance of the game before he went off.

Laura Kenyon
BBC Final Score reporter

Image source, Shutterstock

It took Divine intervention to seal all three points for West Ham against Swansea this weekend.

Divine Mukasa – arriving in the box and scoring with the game's first shot on target.

At just 19, the finish showed the composure of a player with far more years of experience in the bank. The celebration was understated.

It was a standout performance all-round from the England Under-19 international, who re-joined his boyhood club this season on loan from Manchester City.

Mukasa's stock is continuing to rise. He is praised by fans, catching the attention of pundits and clearly earning the trust of manager Nuno Espirito Santo.

The stats suggest that is the case - nine appearances from a possible 11 Championship fixtures, in which Mukasa has scored three goals.

West Ham gained ground on the league leaders thanks to a solitary goal from Mukasa, who is being positioned as a key player in their bid to return to the Premier League.

Could his loan move be made permanent come January?

West Ham are looking to continue their impressive run in the Championship as they head to leaders Swansea City on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Hammers boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been speaking to BBC Radio London's Emma Jones:

• On returning to winning ways against Lincoln City on Wednesday: "There's always pressure, inside our objective. It was important to achieve a win. We still keep trying to build momentum, and more than anything perform well, compete well, so we can be stronger."

• On Tomas Soucek's two goals in the 6-0 victory: "It was very important for him, after such a long period out, to score goals, to celebrate, to be happy - but there were lots of positives."

• On whether a game against a rival is must-win: "All the matches are must-win, all the points you can win are the same. From the first game, winning is always our objective."

• On playing Swansea: "It will be very tough. They are a good team and doing things very well, so we expect a very competitive match."

• On Swans' boss and fellow Portuguese Victor Matos: "I do know him, but not very well. He is doing a very good job. He is a young manager with a lot of quality. I haven't had the chance to speak to him, but I have big admiration and respect."

Image source, Opta

Swansea's promotion credentials are set to be given their sternest test yet as West Ham visit on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Despite winning four straight games the Swans could start the game second in the Championship, should Middlesbrough overcome Cardiff in the early kick-off, but will seek to continue their unbeaten run at home, taking 11 points from five games so far and conceding only twice.

The Hammers - who lie four points behind City in the standings - are the country's leading scorers with 29 goals across 10 matches, six of those in a midweek win at Lincoln, which made it nine points from five games unbeaten on their travels.

• Swansea won their last league game against West Ham 4-1 in March 2018, last beating the Hammers twice in a row in the league in September 1957 (3 in a row).

• West Ham have won on just one of their past six league visits to Swansea (D3 L2), a 4-1 Premier League win on Boxing Day 2016.

• With 23 points across their opening 10 Championship matches this season (W7 D2 L1), Swansea City are enjoying their second-best Football League campaign at this stage after only 1923-24 (25 - when assuming three points for a win).

• West Ham have lost their past two away league games against sides from Wales and will be looking to avoid losing three in succession for the first time since September 1957 (4).

• Thanks to his goal and two assists against Lincoln in midweek, West Ham's Jarrod Bowen became the first player across England's top four tiers this season to record 5+ goals (6) and 5+ assists (5) this season.

Fit-again Tomas Soucek aims to play a leading role in helping West Ham get back to the Premier League after making an emphatic return to action.

A day after signing a new contract, the Czech midfielder came off the bench and scored twice in Wednesday's 6-0 hammering of Lincoln City.

It was just his second appearance of the season, after suffering an ankle injury at the World Cup.

"I'm as happy as I can be, because I signed a new contract with West Ham and since I came here everything has suited so well and the connection is between me and the club and fans," Soucek told BBC Radio London.

"And to score these two goals is massive for me. This performance also gives me the motivation and ambition for all the hard work I have done, because I missed nearly four months since the injury.

"I scored for many years in the Premier League and the goal is to go straight back, and I want to be a big part of the team.

"My connection with them (the fans) is unbelievable and I wanted to deliver for them. This is my home now."

We asked for your thoughts after Wednesday's eventful Championship match between Lincoln City and West Ham.

The Imps played most of the game with nine men after two early red cards and the Hammers punished them by scoring six.

Here are some of your comments:

Lincoln fans

Neil: Architect of their own downfall, enabled West Ham to take all three points without getting out of first gear.

Peter: Feeling nothing but pride for the nine warriors who stayed professional to the end of a very difficult evening. Clearly the game and result would have been very different but for two bad decisions by two good players. Some very positive performances by players, despite the result. Onwards and upwards, up the Imps.

Kieran: Although the result finished 6–0 against us, the score doesn't tell the full story of the effort, commitment and determination shown by the nine-man team. Every player gave it their all, continued to work hard for one another and never stopped trying, even when things became difficult.

As a new team in the league, we knew there would be challenges, and this game was a reminder of the steep learning curve we face. The pace, physicality and quality of opposition are all things we will continue to learn from as we gain more experience together.

Saying that, I would not have bet against Lincoln if it was 11 v 11.

There are plenty of lessons to take away from this match, and while the result is disappointing, there were positives in the attitude and determination shown by the lads. We will take these lessons on board, keep working hard in training and come back stronger.

Heads up, chests out, and on to the next one!

Image source, Shutterstock

West Ham fans

Nige: Very good. Took a while to break them down but a class above. A stroll for West Ham in the second half. Lincoln too pumped up, maybe hoping to intimidate the Iron. Impressed by a group of Lincoln fans who didn't stop singing. Too good for their team.

Richard: A strange game. Both teams were equal until 23 minutes when the Imps went down to nine men. After that it became a one-way street in which the Hammers couldn't be stopped from going forward and scoring goals almost at will. A six-goal win was probably a fair result even though the Imps were quite disciplined in defence.

The Hammers will need to improve their performance against the league leaders on Saturday if they want to get something from the game. A defeat will see them fall seven points off the top.

Dave: Yet another very poor first half, even against a nine-man team. Lincoln played well.

I just don't understand why we can't play in the first half - until we scored you would have thought we [were the team who] only had nine players.

It seems we have to wait for the second half and the substitutes before we start playing. He [boss Nuno] really needs to look at the team selection, the young Norwegian lad [Edvin Austbo] looks really good and quick, give him a start not coming off the bench.

West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo spoke to BBC Radio London after their 6-0 away win over Lincoln City.

For a written selection of his quotes, click here.

Former West Ham United defender Anton Ferdinand says he knows exactly how the current crop of players feel as they fight for promotion back to the Premier League.

Ferdinand, now 41, made his professional debut for the Hammers on the opening day of the 2003-04 campaign after the club's relegation the previous season.

They missed out on an immediate return to the top flight, losing to Crystal Palace in the play-off final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, but came back the following year to defeat Preston.

"I lived this, many years ago, this exact moment," Ferdinand, who has this season embarked on his first senior coaching role with National League newcomers Hornchurch, told BBC Radio London.

"I know how hard it is. You're coming into the Championship, you're the biggest team in the league. [When] everyone's coming to your home pitch, it's an FA Cup final for them, and the pressure's on.

"But [boss] Nuno [Espirito Santo] has steadied the ship quite quickly, which is very pleasing.

"As much as everyone's saying we should walk the league, it's never going to be like that. That's just the way the Championship is.

"We've started well. When we get to Christmas, that's when it really starts to get nail-biting."

Listen to Anton talk to BBC Radio London's breakfast show on the club's season so far, and their work in the community, by using the play button above or clicking here.

Image source, Shutterstock

West Ham United head coach Nuno Espirito Santo has again warned his players they can ill afford to start matches slowly.

The Hammers have conceded the first goal in their last three games in all competitions, hitting back to draw Championship matches against QPR and Millwall but losing their EFL Cup tie with Premier League side Fulham.

Nuno is keen to avoid a repeat when his side travel to face Lincoln City, who sit in 16th place, on Wednesday.

"We have to fix it, urgently," he said. "We have to start the games better. I don't want to keep repeating myself – 'slow start, better second half'.

"I want to come to you guys one day and say 'good first half, good second half'."

Venezuela winger Keiber Lamadrid remains sidelined through injury, while other players will have their match fitness assessed as the Hammers get used to extra league fixtures outside the top flight.

Midfielder Mohamadou Kante is available again after he missed the QPR game through suspension.

West Ham United will be hoping they can regain their position in the automatic promotion places during the midweek games after a disappointing 1-1 draw against Queens Park Rangers on Friday saw them drop to third.

They visit Lincoln City for Wednesday's headline event (20:00 BST) with the Imps looking to cut off a two-match losing run.

• This will be the first league match between Lincoln City and West Ham United since December 1957, a 6-1 win for the Hammers.

• West Ham are unbeaten in seven meetings with Lincoln City in all competitions (W5 D2), most recently a 1-0 League Cup third round victory in September 2023.

• Lincoln have failed to win their opening four home games of a Football League season for the first time since 2004-05 (first 5).

• West Ham are looking to avoid defeat in their first five away league games of a season for the fourth time in the 21st century, after 2011-12 (Championship), 2015-16 (Premier League) and 2021-22 (Premier League).

• West Ham have won each of their last five league games against newly promoted opponents, including a 3-2 win at Bolton already this season.

West Ham United boss Nuno Espirito Santo spoke to BBC Radio London after the 1-1 draw at home to QPR on Friday night.

For a written selection of his quotes, click here.

Image source, Shutterstock

We asked for your thoughts after West Ham's 1-1 draw at home to QPR on Friday night.

Here are some of your comments:

West Ham fans

Mandy: The harsh reality. A terrible performance. Stats show we had 12 shots, but not one before the 70th minute and Bowen's goal. Sloppy passing, no running, no midfield. Not sure Nuno knows his best team. Three weeks to prepare? What were they doing? Then a gift at the end and the captain fluffs it. A point is actually more than we deserved. A long season ahead. What. A. Let down.

Stuart: So frustrating to watch. First half so passive and no energy. Second half poor at the start and then improved. Should have been three points in the end but to be honest we would not have deserved it.

Matt: Same old West Ham again - it's like we think that we'll walk the league without trying for the first hour of a game, and then realise that we actually need to exert ourselves a bit for the last half hour.

If they can play like that the whole game then it will be great but it's been a recurring theme since the first game. I might be an outlier but I trust Nuno still - this feels like an effort issue from the players more so than tactical mismanagement, and the subs on Friday showed that he knows who to bring on when.

Sue: It was the worst I've seen this season. They were so slow and lacklustre. QPR's penalty was a joke but they did deserve something from the match even though the referee had to give it to them. If we don't start improving from the beginning of matches we will not get promotion.

David: Nuno says we start slowly in "some games". In fact it's every game. It's been a West Ham problem since the days of Moyes but it's Nuno's job to sort it out, especially in this division.

We have to get after teams but we make it comfortable for them with our slow sideways passing at the back and complete lack of physicality up front.

Image source, Shutterstock

QPR fans

Colin: QPR can be pleased with the result, going away to West Ham is not easy and they acquitted themselves well, in fact could have been 2-0 up going into the break. Last season they had problems with the GK position but this chap on loan from Citeh is top notch.

Paul: So solid for 70 minutes. Playing away from home, getting a point despite all our injuries is a fantastic effort. Hope at last.

Andrew: Good first half. Lost momentum in the second half but overall a great team effort and a good point away from home. Kolli certainly looked more dangerous up front than Kone.

Tony: Outstanding all round team performance from QPR. Showed a lot of class in the first half and in the second, courage, organisation and resilience. Well organised throughout and now looking like promotion contenders.

Stuart: Overall, we put in a solid performance. While the penalty was fortunate, it was just reward for our early pressure. We expected them to step things up in the second half, but up until the substitutions, we looked in control.

Their penalty was one of the clearest you'll see given all season, but Charles stepped up to ensure we didn't leave empty-handed.

Image source, Shutterstock

Scunthorpe United have signed West Ham United defender Regan Clayton on a one-month loan deal.

The 21-year-old has been with the Hammers since the age of 10 and has made 10 appearances for their under-21s in the EFL Trophy.

He could make his debut for the Iron, who are 21st in the National League, at Fylde on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Image source, Getty Images

West Ham United are celebrating winning both the Championship's manager and player of the month awards for September.

Boss Nuno Espirito Santo oversaw an unbeaten run last month which produced four wins from their five league games in which they scored 18 goals.

Defender Konstantinos Mavropanos had a prolific September for the Hammers, scoring four goals while also helping them keep two clean sheets as they moved up to second place in the table.

"I am delighted to win this award, but it was an excellent team effort this month," said Mavropanos.

"We had some good results, went on a good run, and obviously this award means that we are doing something good with the team.

"I am the one who has been given the award this time, but it could have been any of my team-mates, and I am just really happy that we are in a good way right now."

Lincoln head coaches Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw, Swansea's Vitor Matos and Mark Robins of Stoke City were also nominated for the manager award.

Image source, Getty Images

Lincoln City head coaches Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw, Swansea's Vitor Matos, Mark Robins of Stoke City and West Ham United boss Nuno Espirito Santo have been nominated for September's Championship manager of the month award.

Cohen and Shaw oversaw a run of eight points from five games for newly-promoted Lincoln last month, including away wins at Preston and Bristol City.

Matos won August's award and is in the running again as Swansea took 10 points in September to move to the top of the Championship table.

Stoke City recovered from losing their opening three games of the season under Robins to go unbeaten last month with four wins from their five outings and move up to seventh place.

West Ham boss Nuno's side rattled in 18 goals in their five matches in September with only Millwall preventing them from taking three points in a 2-2 draw at The Den.

The winner will be announced at 06:00 BST on Friday, 9 October.