Recalled Divine Mukasa struck just after the half-hour mark to send West Ham United climbing up into second-spot in the EFL Championship.

“It was not only about keeping momentum but it was also about building upon it, too,” insisted Nuno Espírito Santo after his side extended their unbeaten run to nine games with their 1-0 victory over the Swans. “This has been a very demanding week in terms of the opponents we’ve had to face but it’s finished really well.

“The commitment, unity and way in which the boys played today was excellent against a very good Swansea City team. We had to win our individual battles and I’m happy with the way we’ve defended to achieve a good result at a tough place.

"We did lots of running against a side that’s got belief. It was a very intense football match."

The Hammers head coach had made just one switch from the side that won 6-0 at Lincoln City three days earlier - the club’s biggest away victory since 1923 – as Mukasa came in for substitute, Joël Piroe.

In a cagey, cautious opening half-hour played out in a congested, keenly contested midfield, it was clear that there would be no unlikely repeat of that midweek scoreline given neither ‘keeper had been tested by a single shot.

But the deadlock was finally broken on 34 minutes, when lone-striker Pablo won possession before feeding Mohamadou Kanté, whose clever by-line cut-back was lashed home by the in-rushing Mukasa from 12 yards.

“It was a big moment,” contended Nuno. “Like some of the other players, Divine didn’t come back from the international break at his best level but after missing out at Lincoln he’s worked hard and done a good job today.” 

In reply, Ben Cabango came closest to bagging a first-half equaliser, when he rocked the underside of wobbling West Ham’s crossbar and the Swans skipper also scuffed another golden opportunity wide after the break, too.

In the final reckoning, though, Pablo, Jarrod Bowen and Piroe could each have doubled the winning margin but for defiant saves from ‘keeper Lawrence Vigouroux.

“We were organised and even had some clear chances to kill the game,” continued Nuno. “We’ve now played 11 matches of a very long season and must still try to improve on some aspects. That’s going to be a day-by-day process.

“The Championship’s a very demanding league in terms of physicality and challenges and all the matches are massive. Every game is a final and now we can only focus our minds on Southampton,” concluded Nuno, whose side face the seventh-placed Saints at London Stadium, on Saturday (Kick-off 3 pm).