West Ham United are facing a turbulent start to the 2025-26 Premier League season, with manager Nuno Espirito Santo yet to secure a victory in his first three league matches. The Hammers’ ongoing struggles have left them in the relegation zone, prompting concern among fans and experts alike.

Monday’s 1-0 defeat to Brentford extended West Ham’s winless streak in the Premier League to five matches and left the club just two points above bottom-placed Wolves. Their only win so far this season came in August against Nottingham Forest, who, like West Ham, have managed just a single victory.

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Fans Fear Relegation

Andy Payne, co-chair of West Ham’s fan advisory board, spoke openly about the grim reality facing the club:

“We are relegation candidates. I hate saying that, but it’s the reality.”

Supporters will be watching Friday’s trip to Leeds United at Elland Road closely, marking the start of a critical run of fixtures against Newcastle United and Burnley, all clubs within five points of each other in the league table.

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Off-Field Troubles and Fan Protests

West Ham’s troubles extend off the pitch. Monday’s match at the London Stadium saw empty seats as fans staged a boycott in protest against the ownership of David Sullivan and Karren Brady, who have been at the club since 2010.

Thousands of supporters previously demonstrated before a defeat to Crystal Palace, urging changes at the top. In response, the club issued a statement emphasizing their commitment to fan engagement, investment in football operations, and improving the matchday experience.

Payne, who participated in Monday’s boycott, stressed that the protests were aimed at club owners rather than the manager or players:

“There was a deliberate boycott to send a message to the owners that something has got to change. Fans are not the problem; we are the solution waiting to be heard.”

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Tactical Decisions Under Scrutiny

Nuno Espirito Santo’s tactical choices have drawn some criticism. Against Brentford, he deployed inverted full-backs, including a young left-back playing out of position at right-back. Payne noted:

“It’s unfair on Nuno and the players. He got his selections a bit skew-whiff. Ollie Scarles, I felt sorry for him really.”

Despite the criticism, Nuno acknowledged the situation and pledged to work on regaining fan confidence:

“I think we are all concerned. You can see our own fans are concerned. Concern becomes anxiety, becomes silence. We have a problem. The fans need to see something that pleases them, and they can support us and give us energy. It’s up to us to change it.”

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Looking Ahead

West Ham have historically performed well against Leeds United, winning three of their last five encounters. Nuno highlighted the importance of immediate improvement:

“In four days’ time at Leeds, we need a big improvement, realising that every day is important to improve the situation. Responsibility, commitment, hard work, and a little bit more conscious effort. We need it.”

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Historical Context

The defeat to Brentford marked several historic low points for West Ham at home:

• First time losing their opening four home games in a league season.
• Only the second instance of losing five successive top-flight home matches, the previous being 1930-31.
• Four points after eight games ties the club’s joint-worst start in the top flight, alongside 1973-74 and 1988-89 seasons.

While history shows that West Ham have often rallied after poor starts, three previous seasons with similar early struggles ended in relegation (1977-78, 1988-89, 2002-03). However, in five other instances, the club managed to avoid the drop, offering some cautious optimism for fans.