Nuno Espirito Santo believes the scale of support at the London Stadium is proving a genuine asset for West Ham after his side thrashed Wrexham 6-0 on Friday night, a result that kept them at the summit of the Championship.
A crowd of 59,712 turned out to watch the Hammers extend their winning run to four matches, with goals spread across the forward line. Joel Piroe and Taty Castellanos were both on target, while Jarrod Bowen and Manor Solomon also found the net. Substitute Mohamadou Kante added a sixth after coming off the bench, capping a dominant display against the Welsh visitors.
Speaking to BBC Radio London afterwards, Nuno was careful not to overstate the significance of the scoreline, insisting his side's focus remains fixed on their own progress rather than sending any wider message to promotion rivals. However, he did acknowledge that playing regularly in front of such large crowds represents a rare advantage for a club competing in the second tier.
"We just focus on ourselves and realise London Stadium is a big strength that we have, to try to take advantage of 60,000 fans who give us so much that we have to try to give back," Nuno said.
The stadium's atmosphere has often been debated since West Ham left the tighter confines of Upton Park, with critics pointing to the distance between supporters and the pitch as a dampener on matchday intensity. Yet Nuno suggested that with results going the club's way and momentum building, the ground could increasingly function as a stronghold rather than a source of criticism.
Despite the emphatic scoreline, the head coach was quick to temper expectations, reminding his squad that sustained consistency will be required over the course of the campaign. "It's not about sending messages, it's about internally realising that today is good, tomorrow is going to be harder and we have to keep on going," he said. He added that several clubs in the division share similarly high ambitions, and that West Ham's own targets require patience given how far the season still has to run.
Following last term's relegation from the Premier League, Nuno pointed to the psychological lift such a comprehensive win could provide as the squad continues to adjust to life in the Championship. He highlighted the contributions from his front players and the impact made by those introduced from the bench as evidence that the team's training-ground work is beginning to translate into matches.
"It will boost their confidence for all the players, with the forward line scoring, good combinations, and players coming from the bench with energy - a very positive day for us," Nuno said, adding that patterns being developed at the club's Rush Green training base were increasingly visible on matchdays. He stressed the importance of maintaining that momentum so the squad can continue playing with belief.
Separately, West Ham's women's team also enjoyed a positive result this week, securing their first Women's Super League win of the season with a 2-1 victory over London City Lionesses. Kelly Gago opened the scoring after 21 minutes, latching onto a long pass from Seraina Piubel before rounding the goalkeeper, and Viviane Asseyi doubled the lead early in the second half after being played through by Riko Ueki. London City pulled a goal back through a clever Danielle van de Donk backheel with 14 minutes remaining, but were unable to find an equaliser.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport and The Guardian.