EFL boss warned he’s already under pressure just two games into the season

Nuno Espirito Santo has been warned that the pressure will mount if he doesn’t make a major change to his style of play.

West Ham have picked up just one point from their first two Championship games after relegation from the Premier League last season.

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The Hammers are expected to achieve promotion straight back to the top flight this campaign, but they have made a slow start.

Nuno‘s side threw away a 2-0 lead against Burnley to draw their first outing before going on to lose 2-1 at home to Charlton in their opening clash at the London Stadium on Saturday.

Those results see West Ham sit 16th in the Championship, with some supporters already voicing their concerns.

And cult hero Dean Ashton thinks that if the poor results continue, then the pressure will soon build on the boss, unless he makes a change to his style of football…

‘Nuno is not that manager’

Ashton told talkSPORT’s Hawksbee and Jacobs: “I think West Ham are short in terms of quality, that’s for sure.

“Especially in terms of the midfield and at centre-back… they need strength at the back and certainly in midfield.

“For me, if you look at the teams that get promoted from the Championship, they tend to be possession-based teams.

“Nuno is not that manager. So, he’s either going to have to change the way he likes his teams to play and make that work, or I think it’s going to be a very difficult season.

“The pressure will mount so quickly from those supporters, who have shown their commitment with the amount of season tickets that they’ve sold, as they’re expecting an exciting promotion push.

“It was very disappointing again at the weekend.”

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Is Nuno feeling pressure already?

After West Ham lost 2-1 at home to Charlton on Saturday – a game which saw them miss a stoppage-time penalty – Nuno was asked whether he feels under pressure in the dugout.

He responded: “It’s West Ham, the pressure is every day.

“It’s a big club. You just see our fans – there were 62,000 people in the stands and we let them down. This is the more disappointing feeling.”

On the fans specifically, the Hammers boss added: “It’s disappointing but it’s us who failed today. It was us.

“We failed them. We should apologise… but I humbly ask for them to believe and keep supporting like they are doing.”

West Ham are next in action in the second round of the Carabao Cup against Southampton at St. Mary’s Stadium on Tuesday.

They then face Watford next in the Championship on Saturday afternoon, live on talkSPORT.