Nuno Espirito Santo is still awaiting his first league triumph with West Ham, as his side were held to a hard‑fought 1‑1 draw in front of the largest Vicarage Road crowd in six years. The Hammers left the ground to a chorus of boos from a sizable contingent of travelling fans, who sang a derisive chant of "You're getting sacked in the morning" despite the team’s dominant display after the break. West Ham have struggled to live up to the expectations placed on them as the Championship’s promotion favourites. Early-season setbacks – a two‑goal lead squandered against Burnley and a shocking home loss to Charlton – have already dented confidence.
In Watford’s case, the visitors fell behind after a spectacular strike from 19‑year‑old prospect Amin Nabizada, and they were forced to rely on a bizarre own‑goal, born from a defensive error, to secure a point. Nuno gave his league debut to 18‑year‑old defender Airidas Golambeckis, who displayed composure and assurance beyond his years. However, the Hammers had already survived Nabizada’s curling effort, which narrowly missed the target after 19 minutes. The young Afghan international seemed to be squeezed out of the penalty area, yet he showed audacity by lofting a delicate, curling chip over goalkeeper Mads Hermansen and into the far corner – a goal that recalled Gerard Deulofeu’s trick shot at Wembley during Watford’s FA Cup semi‑final comeback against Wolves seven years ago.
The strike rattled West Ham briefly, but the momentum soon shifted. The equaliser came in a most comical fashion. Watford defender Kevin Keben attempted to shepherd the ball along the byline towards his own net, only to be dispossessed by Taty Castellanos.
The ball then fell to home‑grown centre‑back Mattie Pollock, who, in a moment of panic, turned the ball into his own net from point‑blank range. The own‑goal not only erased Watford’s lead but also deflated their early confidence, while Keben’s composure was tested. He managed to regain his footing later in the match, but the incident remained a talking point.
In the second half, West Ham began to settle into the game. Arne Engels fired a shot that drifted just wide, and a last‑ditch tackle from Pollock denied Manor Solomon a clear chance.
Despite moments when the Hammers appeared to be in control, nerves still lingered. The decisive moment arrived when Joel Veltman’s crucial deflection over the top prevented Iker Bravo from scoring a late winner on a rare Watford breakaway, preserving the draw for the visitors. Watford, for their part, deserved the point. Head coach Alessio Dionisi continued his unbeaten run in the Championship, despite operating with a severely limited squad.
He even named two goalkeepers on the bench, a testament to the resource constraints he faces. Dionisi expressed satisfaction after his side endured a 5‑1 defeat to League One side Peterborough in the Carabao Cup earlier in the week, noting that the team responded positively. Dionisi’s post‑match comments highlighted his belief in the young talent on display: "I believe in Amin – I didn’t know him before I arrived, but he performed well in every pre‑season game. I’m happy for him and for the team; a positive result is even better.
Now I wait for other players to score because it’s impossible for Amin to find the net every match." He continued, recalling that before the game, he asked Nabizada how many goals he had scored in his career; the answer was zero. "Now he has two," Dionisi smiled, noting how quickly fortunes can change. He reflected on the early season struggles, saying, "One month ago, after the first three games, things looked terrible.
But every match is an opportunity, and with five points now, it feels better than a month ago." The coach also addressed the club’s broader challenges: "I believe in my team and hope new players will arrive. I don’t know how many or when, but the club works hard for this. It’s impossible to play with only two centre‑backs in every match." Regarding pressure, Dionisi admitted, "Pressure is on us every day. We are a big club and favourites to go up.
We have two points from three games, so who’s happy? But I trust my boys and work very hard with them.
We are building a team and things will change – I’m positive." He paid tribute to the supporters, stating, "The fans are the most important part of our club and I respect them so much. I understand every opinion and ask them to keep believing, keep trusting us, and keep going. A win must come – hopefully at the London Stadium on Tuesday. We need it." Finally, Dionisi praised his squad’s attitude: "I have nothing to say about the players' attitude and belief; they are more important for us moving forward, believing in the process and the way we are doing things.
We’re positive that we’ll click – we’ll do it." The match also featured a promotional element, reminding fans of the Super 6 competition with a chance to win £250,000, entered for free. Overall, the 1‑1 stalemate reflects a season still in its infancy for both clubs, with West Ham yearning for that elusive first win and Watford striving to maintain momentum under a manager who must do more with less. Both sides will look ahead to their next fixtures, hoping to translate the lessons learned at Vicarage Road into tangible results.