Nuno Espirito Santo received a standing ovation, and justifiably so after a promising debut. His initial match as West Ham’s new head coach, succeeding Graham Potter following his dismissal, concluded with a 1-1 draw at Everton, but there was a note of caution afterward. 

‘We have demonstrated our ability to compete,’ said Nuno. ‘We have established the fundamentals for a football match. However, this is merely a small step. There is much work ahead of us.’ 

Michael Keane  put Everton ahead with a fierce header on 18 minutes but the Nuno effect was apparent when Jarrod Bowen equalised in the second half.

CALM THESE TROUBLED WATERS

It took just 30 seconds for Nuno to rise from his seat and place his hands on his hips. This was followed by a concerned head scratch, akin to the kind you often see from a mechanic before they inform you: ‘Yes, sir, your car has four wheels, but the clutch has failed, the exhaust is blocked, and the engine is damaged.’

If Nuno manages to steer West Ham to a finish above 17th, he might consider a career in magic, given the profound issues at this club that won’t be resolved simply by additional hours at their Rush Green training facility.

Many dedicated fans completed this 420-mile round trip and made sure Chairman David Sullivan knew their feelings in the 30th minute, followed by an extended chant of “sack the board!” – this is likely to be the ongoing backdrop throughout the season.

‘We have to bring the fans closer to us,’ Nuno observed. 

Jarrod Bowen earned a point for West Ham during Nuno Espirito Santo’s first game in charge

Michael Keane fired the Toffees ahead with a superb header in the 18th minute of the match

Santo’s second-half changes did the business as he stopped the rot for the Irons with a draw

GET THE DEFENCE SORTED

After Everton scored first in the 18th minute, Nuno’s initial reaction was to glance at the iPad situated in front of his dugout – then he grimaced. He looked to his left, where club veteran Mark Robson was sitting, assisting him, and saw confirmation as Robson mimicked a heading motion.

In other words, it was another sign of aerial vulnerability. High balls into the West Ham area this season have had the effect of ice cubs being thrown onto a roaring fire: the defenders have tended to instantly melt – and so it proved again.

Nuno, a man who prides himself on defensive resilience, simply won’t tolerate this. Michael Keane couldn’t believe how much space he had been afforded to run on to James Garner’s precise cross and the anticipation was that Everton would ram home their dominance.

BLUNT BLUES

Moyes took umbrage to a question at his weekly press conference last Friday that his forwards haven’t fired as he would want them. He swiftly responded that Beto had scored two goals already and insisted the man from Guinea-Bissau – and rookie Thierno Barry – were ‘doing fine’.

Fine is, well, fine.  But Everton need ruthlessness. Beto, a hugely popular figure in the dressing room, had a fabulous chance to cement Everton’s early dominance but the timing of his jump for a James Tarkowski cross was off and his header had no power. It was one of many let-offs.

The home crowd’s frustrations were obvious – and noisy. They knew West Ham should have been cut to ribbons and the growls at the final whistle, exacerbated by a booking for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall that triggers a one-game ban, signified an opportunity missed.

Striker Beto needs to do be better than ‘fine’ if Everton are going to put teams to bed this term

West Ham conceded from a header once again – one of their key issues so far this campaign

Graham Potter was sacked by West Ham on Saturday after winning just one game from five

BOWEN AGAIN, OLE, OLE!

A penny for Moyes’s thoughts when he saw the ball drop to Bowen, in oceans of space, in the 64th minute. The then West Ham manager took the chance on a young man from Hull in January 2020, filled him with belief and was paid back when with the goal, in June 2023, that secured the club its first trophy since 1980.

Bowen is the twinkling jewel in the sand for West Ham. There are other talented players, but their captain ticks every box you could want: attitude, skill, honesty and, above all, quality. When he seized onto a loose ball, there was a sense of inevitability about what would follow.

His finish was thumping, ripping past Jordan Pickford with a deflection off Keane. Bowen would get in most teams in the Premier League every week.

A BUILDING BLOCK

Things aren’t about to get any easier for Nuno, with a trip to Arsenal on Saturday. That was one of Potter’s few great days at West Ham, when he oversaw a win at The Emirates in February – but it would be an even greater surprise if they achieved a similar result this weekend.

Still, this was a start, a positive strand to cling to at a time when there has been untold turbulence. There will be more to come in the future – isn’t it always the case with West Ham? – but, for now, the scoreboard is ticking over. It needs to remain that way.