West Ham United are staring down the barrel of a first relegation in 13 years, with manager Nuno Espirito Santo under intense pressure following a gut-wrenching late defeat to Nottingham Forest.
A Relegation Six-Pointer Ends in Heartbreak
The Hammers took a crucial lead in this pivotal clash at the London Stadium on 7th January 2026. Crysencio Summerville's delivery was flicked on by Tomas Soucek, leading to a 13th-minute own goal from Forest defender Murillo. However, the lead and any semblance of confidence evaporated in the second half.
Nuno's former club, now managed by Sean Dyche, equalised through Nicolas Dominguez's header from an Elliot Anderson corner. The prospect of a damaging draw then turned into a catastrophic defeat in the dying moments. A costly error from goalkeeper Alphonse Areola conceded a penalty, which Morgan Gibbs-White coolly converted to seal a 2-1 victory for Forest.
The final whistle was met with a chorus of boos from the home support, as a fifth defeat in six matches left West Ham seven points adrift of safety and in deep trouble.
Rob Green's Verdict: 'I Don't See Another Answer'
The dismal run of form, which now stretches to 10 games without a win, has led to serious questions about Nuno's future. Former West Ham and England goalkeeper Rob Green offered a stark assessment on Sky Sports.
"You can’t see things continuing much longer with results like this," Green stated. "I don’t see Nuno staying. I just can’t see how long you can go without winning a game. Tonight wasn’t the worst performance by a long shot and they still didn’t get a result."
He concluded with a sombre prediction: "It’s heartbreaking but I don’t see another answer. It’s looking more and more like an impossible task."
From Forest Hero to Hammers Crisis
Nuno's appointment on 27th September 2025 on a three-year deal was initially met with optimism. He had been credited with leading Nottingham Forest to European qualification the previous season, their first since the 1990s, before a controversial dismissal by owner Evangelos Marinakis.
Hired to replace the unpopular Graham Potter, Nuno was tasked with turning around a faltering campaign. Instead, his tenure has set an unwanted record, with just 11 points from 16 matches marking the worst start of any manager in the club's history.
He now risks the dubious distinction of becoming the first manager to be sacked by two different Premier League clubs in the same season.
Mitigating Factors and a Glimmer of Hope?
Some context exists for the Portuguese coach's struggles. He inherited a squad assembled by Potter and Julen Lopetegui, following a summer transfer window widely criticised for its poor value. Key sales like Mohammed Kudus were followed by expensive signings such as goalkeeper Mads Hermansen (£20m), defender Jean-Clair Todibo (£32.8m), and midfielder Mateus Fernandes (£42m), none of whom have made an immediate impact.
Nuno's own first signings, striker Taty Castellanos and winger Pablo, have only just arrived after extensive scouting. Furthermore, the managerial market currently offers few compelling alternatives, with names like Slaven Bilic and Michael Carrick linked but lacking Nuno's Premier League and promotion pedigree.
That pedigree includes winning the Championship title with Wolves in 2017/18 with a remarkable 99 points, a fact that may offer cold comfort to fans fearing the drop. The coming weeks will determine whether the board believes he can replicate that escape act or if, as Rob Green fears, the task has already become impossible.
