Nuno Espirito Santo continues to await West Ham United's inaugural league triumph after the Hammers were forced to settle for a hard‑fought 1-1 draw at Vicarage Road, witnessed by the stadium's largest attendance in six years. The atmosphere turned hostile as a sizable contingent of travelling supporters jeered their manager, chanting "You're getting sacked in the morning" despite the team producing a commanding display in the second half. The Hammers have struggled to live up to the expectations placed upon them as the Championship's promotion favourites.
Early setbacks, such as surrendering a two‑goal advantage against Burnley and suffering a surprising home defeat to Charlton Athletic, have left the squad under pressure. In this latest fixture, 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 a bizarre own‑goal born from a defensive blunder. Nuno gave his 18‑year‑old defender Airidas Golambeckis his first league appearance, and the youngster responded with composure and confidence beyond his years. Nevertheless, Watford took the lead after 19 minutes when Nabizada, an Afghan international, found space in the box, evaded a crowd of defenders and executed a delicate, curling chip that sailed over goalkeeper Mads Hermansen and nestled in the far corner.
The goal echoed Gerard Deulofeu's audacious effort in the Hornets' 2016 FA Cup semi‑final against Wolves, momentarily unsettling the West Ham side. The equaliser arrived in the most unlikely fashion.
Watford defender Kevin Keben attempted to shepherd the ball toward his own goal line, only to be dispossessed by Taty Castellanos. In the scramble, home captain Mattie Pollock inadvertently redirected the ball into his own net from point‑blank range. The accidental goal deflated Watford's early confidence and gave West Ham a lifeline, though Keben struggled to regain his composure for a period. After the break, the Hammers began to assert themselves.
Arne Engels fired a shot that narrowly missed the target, while Mattie Pollock's last‑ditch tackle denied Manor Solomon a clear chance. West Ham continued to press, but nerves remained evident. It was Joel Veltman's crucial deflection over the top that prevented Iker Bravo from capitalising on a rare Watford breakaway, denying the visitors a late winner. Despite spending much of the second half on the back foot, Watford earned a deserved point, preserving head coach Alessio Dionisi's unbeaten start to the Championship campaign.
Dionisi has been forced to operate with a thin squad, even naming two goalkeepers on the bench for this match. He expressed satisfaction with his team's resilience after a 5-1 cup defeat to League One side Peterborough United earlier in the week. In his post‑match comments, Dionisi praised the teenage Nabizada: "I didn't know him before I arrived, but he performed admirably in every pre‑season game.
I'm delighted for him and the team; a positive result is always welcome. I asked him how many goals he'd scored in his career – he said zero – now he has two." He reflected on the early season struggles: "A month ago the first three games looked terrible, but each match is an opportunity.
With five points now, things feel better than a month ago. I trust my players and work hard with them. We are building a side, and I am confident things will improve." Dionisi also addressed the club's broader challenges: "We are a big club, favourites to go up, yet we only have two points from three games.
Pressure is on us daily. I believe in my boys and respect the fans – their support is vital. Keep believing, keep trusting us, and a win will come – hopefully at the London Stadium on Tuesday." He concluded with optimism about the squad's attitude: "The players' belief and work ethic are crucial for our progress. We are positive that the pieces will click and we will achieve our goals." Overall, the match highlighted West Ham's ongoing quest for consistency and a first win, while Watford demonstrated resilience under a manager working with limited resources.
Both sides will look to build on the lessons learned as the Championship season progresses. Play Super 6 for a chance to win £250k! Enter for free.