WEST HAM HELD BY WATFORD AS PRESSURE MOUNTS ON NUNO

West Ham drew 1-1 with Watford at Vicarage Road, extending their winless run to three matches at the start of the Championship season. The result came in front of Watford's largest crowd in six years. West Ham supporters directed chants of "you're getting sacked in the morning" at their manager Nuno Espírito Santo following the final whistle. The club spent £22 million on midfielder Arne Engels during the summer transfer window.

Watford manager Alessio Dionisi fielded a squad with limited options, with his bench containing two goalkeepers and a single defender. Dionisi has reportedly altered training sessions to accommodate the shortage of available first-team players ahead of the closing stages of the transfer window. Nineteen-year-old academy product Amin Nabizada emerged as Watford's standout performer in recent weeks. West Ham's previous results in the Championship included a draw against Burnley and a defeat to Charlton.

West Ham entered the Championship following relegation from the Premier League and hold a 68,000-capacity stadium. The club's spending on Engels prompted suggestions from Nuno that the investment was made with Premier League football in mind. The scale of the investment and the club's established status in English football have created expectations for a swift return to the top flight. West Ham's failure to win any of their first three League matches has intensified scrutiny on Nuno's position.