Nuno Espirito Santo kept his feet firmly on the ground when speaking to Sky Sports on Friday, reminding everyone that West Ham still have a "big mission" ahead and a tough task to complete. His calm assessment came after the Hammers’ 4-0 demolition of Wolves, a victory that lifted them out of the relegation zone and ensured they would stay clear of the bottom three regardless of Tottenham’s 2-2 draw with Brighton on Saturday. With that result, West Ham secured a place above the drop zone before their Monday Night Football clash at Crystal Palace.
"We should try to ignore the table and concentrate on what we have to do each game," Nuno urged his players. The advice is sensible – focusing on one match at a time often yields the best outcomes – but it also reflects the optimism that West Ham supporters can now feel. The club’s resurgence has been both dramatic and impressive. When they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest on January 6, they were seven points adrift of safety, while Tottenham sat 13 points clear of the relegation battle.
Since that low point, the Hammers have collected five wins in eleven league fixtures, propelling them back above the crucial safety line. In many ways, they feel like a new side, having undergone a significant overhaul during the winter transfer window. Players such as Lucas Paquetá, James Ward‑Prowse, Guido Rodríguez, Andriy Irvin, George Eddie, Luis Guilherme and Niclas Füllkrug departed, while new faces – Axel Disasi, Taty Castellanos, Pablo Felip, Adama Traoré and Keiber Lamadrid – arrived. Nuno explained that the club "reduced the numbers in terms of players and rebalanced our squad in terms of positions" to better suit the approach they wanted for the second half of the season.
The shift in philosophy is evident when the statistics are examined. From the start of the campaign until mid‑January, West Ham were ranked 17th for goals per game, 19th for big chances created and 16th for possession.
Since then, they have surrendered possession – now sitting at the bottom of the league in that metric – but they have become far more potent in attack, climbing to sixth place for both goals per game and big‑chance creation as they entered the latest round of fixtures. Defensively, the team has also tightened up, keeping four clean sheets in their last eight Premier League matches, thanks in part to the return of goalkeeper Mads Hermansen and the solidifying influence of loan signing Disasi. Set‑piece defending, previously a glaring weakness, has improved dramatically. In the previous 21 games, West Ham had conceded 12 goals from dead‑ball situations; in the last 11 matches they have allowed just three, all of which came in a single encounter with Liverpool.
Yet perhaps the most crucial factor behind the turnaround has been the camaraderie that has developed within the squad. "If I can point to one particular aspect, I think everybody realised that we have to come together in the same objective," Nuno said. "Football is a collective sport.
Everybody is needed – the squad, the coaching staff, the club personnel, the fans. We are getting closer together, helping each other to achieve what we want." That unity was on full display during the FA Cup quarter‑final against Leeds United.
West Ham found themselves 2-0 down as stoppage time approached in the second half, yet they fought back to level the score, forcing extra time and eventually a penalty shoot‑out. Although they ultimately fell short, the comeback demonstrated the team's refusal to surrender. "To take it to extra‑time and then to penalties showed that we don't give up, that we cannot give up," Nuno asserted. "Not only words – we showed it in front of our fans.
We cannot allow ourselves to ever give up. Never give up." Captain Jarrod Bowen epitomised that resilience. He struck the woodwork twice in the cup tie and saw his spot‑kick saved in the shoot‑out, yet he responded by delivering two assists in the subsequent league victory over Wolves. "He's been amazing.
Jarrod has been huge for us," Nuno praised. "He leads by example.
The teammates trust him. He's the club captain – it means a lot. He embraces that responsibility.
Jarrod doesn't stop for a minute." Bowen’s relentless energy and determination serve as a template for the entire squad. As they prepare to face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Monday night, the Hammers are ready to confront the challenges that lie ahead, eager to capitalize on the momentum they have forged together. "Every game is pressure, always pressure," Nuno reminded. "It's increased due to the situation that we are in and we come to this decisive moment of the season, so we expect the best of our players, realizing that everything is going to be decided now." West Ham’s journey from the brink of relegation to a position of relative safety illustrates how strategic squad adjustments, tactical flexibility, and a collective mindset can transform a struggling side into a competitive force.
The upcoming match against Palace will be another test of their resolve, but with Nuno’s guidance and the squad’s renewed unity, the Hammers appear well‑equipped to meet the task.