Only 20 days after his dismissal from Nottingham Forest, Nuno Espírito Santo was back in the Premier League dugout, reacquainting himself with the intensity and responsibility that comes with coaching at the highest level. His new side, West Ham United, earned a well-fought point away at Everton, and while they could not secure victory, their second-half performance offered encouragement and optimism for the future. For Nuno, this felt like a small but important step forward. After weeks of speculation around his next move, he wasted no time returning to management, and this display reminded him why. “I love it, it is my life,” he said afterwards. “This is just a very small step forward for us. We are starting now with a lot of work in front of us, but we are delighted with the challenge.”
The match began with Everton asserting control, reflecting the steady progress they have made under David Moyes. With their midfield dictating possession, the Toffees moved the ball confidently across the pitch, looking to expose spaces in West Ham’s defense. Beto and Iliman Ndiaye both had chances to extend the lead, but their shots were tame and comfortably gathered by Alphonse Areola. Their breakthrough came through Michael Keane, who continues to reinvent himself as a reliable presence in both penalty areas. A perfect inswinging cross from James Garner on the left found Keane completely unmarked. Rising highest, he powered his header beyond the goalkeeper to put Everton in front. The goal was a reward for their dominance, but also a reminder of the defensive lapses that Nuno must quickly address.
Despite having just a couple of training sessions with his new squad, Nuno set his team up in his trademark 4-2-3-1 system. The players were still adjusting, but there were clear signs of greater discipline and structure as the first half wore on. While West Ham looked conservative, their shape gave them a platform to absorb pressure and gradually settle into the match. Nuno knows his challenge is not simply tactical—it is also about building a cohesive identity from a squad that has often looked disjointed. His predecessor, Graham Potter, struggled to consistently get the best out of the squad, though poor recruitment long before his tenure made his task even more complicated. Now, Nuno inherits those same structural issues but has the chance to restore focus and direction.
If West Ham were quiet in the first half, the second was a very different story. The standout performers were Crysencio Summerville and El Hadji Malick Diouf, who combined brilliantly down the left to cause constant problems for Everton’s defense. Summerville, in particular, was relentless in driving at Jake O’Brien, exploiting the full-back’s uncertainty throughout the game. The equaliser came from this very channel. Diouf surged forward and whipped in a dangerous cross. Keane, who had been Everton’s hero earlier, could only flick the ball into the path of Jarrod Bowen. The West Ham forward took a deft touch before unleashing a sublime finish past Jordan Pickford. It was a talismanic moment, Bowen celebrating passionately with the away supporters, kissing the badge as if to underline his commitment to the cause.
From that moment, West Ham carried the greater threat. Their momentum built, their pressing became sharper, and Everton, who had once been in control, began to fade. Pickford was forced into several saves, while defenders threw themselves into desperate blocks to deny the visitors a potential winner. Had West Ham shown slightly more composure in the final third, they might have left Goodison Park with all three points. Regardless, the performance marked a clear step forward. For a side that has struggled at the bottom of the table and carried the weight of supporter frustration, this was a display of resilience and potential.
Off the pitch, however, unrest continues to linger. The traveling West Ham supporters made their feelings clear, directing chants of “sack the board” and other unflattering remarks toward owner David Sullivan and the club’s hierarchy. The discontent stems from years of perceived mismanagement and poor recruitment, issues that have left successive managers working with unbalanced squads. Nuno acknowledged the need to rebuild the relationship between players and fans. “It’s our main priority that we come closer to our supporters,” he explained. “We have to deliver so they can appreciate the work of the boys. It’s a nice moment for us moving forward.”
For Nuno, this performance reaffirmed why he returned to management so quickly after leaving Forest. While hobbies like horse riding and playing the handpan may offer temporary distractions, nothing compares to the adrenaline and intensity of leading a Premier League side. West Ham remain in the relegation zone, but this draw at Everton provides them with a platform to build from. With Summerville, Diouf, and Bowen showing flashes of quality, and with Nuno’s tactical discipline starting to take hold, there is reason to believe improvement lies ahead. Everton, meanwhile, will feel disappointed not to convert their strong first half into three points. Moyes has added depth and flair to his squad this season, yet they allowed their grip to slip once West Ham fought their way back. Keane’s header was a highlight, but defensive errors and a lack of cutting edge up front meant their early dominance ultimately counted for little.
In the end, the match finished level, but the story belonged to Nuno Espírito Santo’s early steps in charge of West Ham. His side showed heart, organization, and a glimpse of the attacking spark that could lift them away from danger. For Nuno, football remains his first love—and even a hard-fought draw at Goodison Park was enough to remind him why.
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