When asked on Saturday evening whether Swansea City will be automatic promotion contenders throughout this Championship season, Nuno Espirito Santo declined to give an answer.

The only focus, the West Ham United boss insisted, was his own team.

Nuno was in upbeat mood after victory at the Swansea.com Stadium lifted the Hammers to second in the second tier, just a point behind Vitor Matos' top-of-the-table Swansea side.

And while he did not want to discuss Swansea's promotion prospects, the former Wolves, Tottenham and Nottingham Forest boss was quick to acknowledge that West Ham had been made to work for perhaps their most notable victory so far this season.

"Swansea is a very good team," Nuno said.

"Vitor is doing an amazing job, the way he puts the boys to play, the way they are organised, their belief until the final moments, the problems that they create.

"We knew that it was going to be tough. It's a very tough opponent, a very good team of football.

"Inside our main goal, each game is a final so I am happy, happy that we achieved in a tough place a good performance and a good result."

Divine Mukasa's first-half goal gave West Ham victory as Swansea were beaten for only the second time in the league this season.

The Swans had chances to respond, though Nuno's side might have stretched their lead after the break as Lawrence Vigouroux made a number of saves.

"It's not easy to try and block Swansea," Nuno added.

"They are very dynamic, they have the wingers one-v-one, they have speed, they run the channel, [they have] a very good striker that always gives good mobility.

"I think overall, in terms of organisation, the team was really, really good. Then it's individual tasks, a lot of duels that were in the game, trying to win each and every individual battle so we can improve."