Smash and grab at Bolton | Nuno has work to do at West Ham despite 3-2 win

By @The_BoleynBoys on X

As usual, the claret and blue army showed why they’re the best in the land, whilst reminding David Sullivan in full voice why we don’t want him at the club anymore. They deserved that win.

Stuff Champions are made of. A real smash and grab it felt for West Ham! It’s a game last year we would’ve seen defeat but being the big timers now, it felt everything dropped our way. Much like Charlton, if Bolton had come away with 3 points I don’t think anyone would’ve argued. We were poor, but such is football, a set-piece and an incredibly fortunate Bowen miss hit that trickled over the line after wrong footing the Bolton GK saw us steal 3 points.

Nuno has work to do. Did he have one eye on Friday and Wrexham? Piroe, Veltman and Solomon started on the bench but improved the side and brought much needed composure when they entered the field. The match felt very chaotic and messy. We never really kept possession, never looked comfortable defensively and were erratic going forward. Kante and Pablo were most guilty of this. Bad touches, miss placed passes and no real intent with anything they tried.

Nuno’s subs, in my opinion were poor. At 2-2 away to a team who have just been promoted from League 1, all were like for like and again showed no intent to actually get the win. Incredibly frustrating as at this level, we should be looking for 3 points at every opportunity. Even the Orford change for Mukasa you’d have to say was a substitute to shore up the midfield! It looked as if we were worried about them more than they were about us. And that’s not good enough.

Away from the negatives, most important always is the points! Taking all 3 coupled with a Southampton win meant the travelling West Ham fans came home happy, seeing the club rise to the top of the table! A journey well worth it from all those that travelled. We’re right in the pack after what you can only call a mediocre start, so it sets the tone for the season. If Nuno can get this team ticking, I expect we will start seeing 3 points weekly and quite frankly we will win the league at a canter!

For West Ham, it’s another win and that’s 3 in a row now, with every opportunity to get 4 at home on Friday, where again, we simply have to expect to win all our home games. Anything less isn’t good enough. You could see the delight after from the players, much needed points bring about the positive energy this team has needed. I hope now they can get used to that winning feeling and really kick on setting the pace for the league.

To no one’s surprise, it could be a record breaking season for us at this level. All will come down to the mentality of Nuno and what he wants from this squad! They are capable. Is he?

A great away day for us all that travelled and it’s nice to enjoy West Ham again but we must improve and quickly!

Onto Wrexham Friday and another 3 points please West Ham!