Nuno Espirito Santo is still searching for his first league triumph with West Ham, as the Hammers were forced to settle for a hard‑fought 1‑1 draw in front of the largest Vicarage Road crowd in six years. The match unfolded under a cloud of tension, with a sizable contingent of travelling supporters expressing their frustration by chanting "You're getting sacked in the morning" at the manager, despite West Ham’s impressive display in the second half.
The Hammers have struggled to live up to the lofty expectations placed upon them as the Championship’s promotion favourites. Early season setbacks, such as surrendering a two‑goal advantage at Burnley and suffering a shocking home loss to Charlton, have already dented confidence. In this encounter, they fell behind to a spectacular strike from Watford’s 19‑year‑old prospect Amin Nabizada, and only managed to claw back a point thanks to an unlikely equaliser that arose from a defensive blunder.
Nuno gave a league debut to 18‑year‑old defender Airidas Golambeckis, who displayed composure and assurance beyond his years. However, the drama began early. Nabizada, the Afghanistan‑born youngster, found space in the box and, with the opposition crowded around him, executed a daring chip that curled past goalkeeper Mads Hermansen and lodged in the far corner. The goal, reminiscent of Gerard Deulofeu’s audacious strike in the Hornets’ 2016 FA Cup semi‑final against Wolves, sent the Watford supporters into rapturous celebration and briefly rattled the West Ham camp.
The Hammers’ response came in the most unexpected fashion. While attempting to clear the ball along the goal line, Watford defender Kevin Keben inadvertently set himself up for an own‑goal. Taty Castellanos swooped in to win the ball, and Mattie Pollock, the home team captain, instinctively redirected it into his own net from point‑blank range. The comical nature of the equaliser stripped away Watford’s early swagger and left Keben visibly shaken, though he later managed to regain his composure.
In the second half, West Ham began to assert themselves. Arne Engels tested the Watford keeper with a near‑miss, and Mattie Pollock made a crucial last‑ditch tackle to deny Manor Solomon a clear‑cut chance. The Hammers pressed forward, but nerves still played a part; a decisive deflection from Joel Veltman over the top thwarted Iker Bravo’s late‑stage breakaway, preventing what could have been a winning goal for Watford. Despite spending much of the second half on the defensive, Watford earned a well‑deserved point, preserving head coach Alessio Dionisi’s unbeaten start in the Championship.
Dionisi has been forced to operate with a thin squad, even naming two goalkeepers among his substitutes. He expressed satisfaction with his side’s resilience after a heavy 5‑1 defeat to League One side Peterborough in the Carabao Cup earlier in the week. After the match, Dionisi spoke highly of his teenage striker: "I have faith in Amin. I didn’t know him before joining, but he performed admirably in every pre‑season fixture.
I’m pleased for him and for the team; a positive result is always welcome. I’m waiting for other players to find the net because it’s unrealistic for Amin to score every game." He reflected on the early season struggles: "A month ago, after the first three games, things looked bleak.
Yet each match is an opportunity, and now with five points, we feel better than we did a month ago. I trust my squad and hope new signings will arrive soon.
It’s impossible to field only two centre‑backs consistently." Dionisi also addressed the pressure surrounding the club: "Every day we feel the weight of expectation. We are a big club and the favourites for promotion.
With two points from three games, who isn’t happy? I believe in my players and work tirelessly with them. We are building something, and I’m optimistic that things will improve." He concluded with a heartfelt appeal to the fans: "The supporters are the lifeblood of this club. I respect every opinion and ask you to keep believing, keep trusting us, and keep supporting us.
A win must come – hopefully at the London Stadium on Tuesday. We need it. The attitude and belief of the players are vital for our progress. We are confident that everything will click soon." Overall, the match highlighted West Ham’s defensive frailties and their reliance on moments of luck, while Watford demonstrated resilience under a manager working with limited resources.
Both sides will look to address their shortcomings ahead of the next round of fixtures, hoping to turn draws into victories and keep their promotion ambitions alive.