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West Ham boss Nuno Espírito Santo has told supporters why they must stop obsessing over the Championship table as pressure builds ahead of crucial away trips to Lincoln City and Swansea City.
Nuno Espírito Santo finds himself coming under increasing pressure from many West Ham fans, but he is pleading with them to stop obsessing over the Championship table right now.
With the league concertinaing after recent results, West Ham could conceivably find themselves scrapping to stay in the play-off places, which extend as far down as eighth this season, if they do not get back to winning ways this week.
On the flip side, two victories would put them just a point behind league leaders and Saturday’s opponents Swansea.
Regardless of the permutations, Nuno has urged West Ham fans to stop worrying about their position in the Championship table ahead of back-to-back away trips to Lincoln and Swansea, insisting that while the table is important, it is not the be-all and end-all at this stage of the season.
“The season is long, but the points are always the same, from the first game to the last, so we have to do our best to get as many on the board as possible,” Nuno said ahead of the trips to Lincoln and Wales.
There's been a LOT of debate recently 👀
“The table is very important, but at this moment is not decisive.
“What we are trying to do is improve our game. If we improve our game, momentum will come.”
Nuno’s comments come after a dramatic night of Championship action went against West Ham, as Swansea and Middlesbrough strengthened their positions while Birmingham and West Brom also picked up important results.
As Hammers News reported, the table has tightened considerably, leaving the Hammers with little room for further dropped points.
Back-to-back draws against Millwall and QPR have increased frustration among supporters, with questions being asked about Nuno’s tactics, team selection and the team’s habit of starting matches too slowly.
The manager is right that there is a long way to go, but West Ham’s promotion ambitions mean they cannot afford to let the leading sides establish too much of a gap.
Victory at Lincoln would lift West Ham back towards the top of the table and provide a timely boost before Saturday’s trip to Swansea.
Winning both games would put the Hammers within a point of the Welsh side, although other results would still determine their precise position.
However, the challenge is about more than league mathematics. West Ham need to show that they can impose themselves on opponents, produce consistent performances and turn promising spells into victories.
Nuno wants supporters to judge progress through improvements on the pitch rather than obsess over the standings.
Yet the table inevitably matters when automatic promotion is the objective and rivals continue to collect points.
The next two fixtures offer West Ham an opportunity to ease the pressure and get their promotion push back on track.
Nuno insists momentum will follow improved performances, but his players must now demonstrate that improvement with results.