Nuno Espirito Santo insisted nothing has changed after West Ham beat Wolves 4-0 at the London Stadium to move out of the Premier League relegation zone for the first time since December and push Tottenham into the bottom three.
Two goals each from Konstantinos Mavropanos and Taty Castellanos saw the Hammers sweep away the league’s bottom side and win for the fifth time in their last 11 matches, leaving their rivals from north London facing the unthinkable prospect of dropping into the Championship.
The hosts were wasteful in the first half but came alive once Mavropanos headed them in front three minutes before the break. Castellanos then struck twice in two minutes midway through the second period to double his tally since arriving in January, before Mavropanos volleyed a late fourth.
West Ham were seven points from safety after losing here against Nottingham Forest in January but surely now hold the upper hand in the race for survival, with new Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi set to begin his tenure away to Sunderland on Sunday looking upwards at the dotted line.
However, Nuno believes climbing above their rivals alters nothing in the wider picture.
“It doesn’t change anything,” he said. “Next week we play after all our opponents. We have to focus on ourselves and today we did the job.”
The result threw West Ham’s revival under Nuno into sharp focus. The reverse fixture at Molineux in January was arguably the lowest point of the team’s season as they went down 3-0 to become the first team to lose to Rob Edwards’ side.
Defeat to Nottingham Forest followed but since then the team have not looked back.
“I hope (the best result) is still in front of us,” said Nuno. “That afternoon was tough at Wolves for everybody at the club. Today we changed the dynamic.”
Nuno was particularly pleased with his goalscorers. Mavropanos has now got three in three in the league, and asked whether he had had been aware of the defender’s goal threat, he said: “Nobody knew. We are delighted. I hope it continues.”
Of Castellanos, who joined from Lazio in January and has now scored four times, Nuno said: “All the players that joined us, the squad has integrated them really well.
“It’s fine margins that change everything in terms of confidence. Forward players, it changes everything when they have confidence.”
Wolves’ brief revival after three games unbeaten was ended and relegation for them could now be confirmed as early as next week away to Leeds.
“I thought the first half was quite good, especially away from home, but they punish mistakes,” said Edwards. “Those two quick-fire goals have cost us the game.
“If someone had said at half-time we were going to lose 4-0 I wouldn’t have believed them.
“We have to fight till the end of the 38th game. We’re doing it for ourselves, for our families, everyone, it’s really important for the football club.
“Regardless of what happens, we have to make sure that we respond and give everything. I’m pretty confident the group will do that.”
