Nuno told he ‘got it all wrong’ against Everton as West Ham ‘stupidity’ goes unpunished

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Tony Gale had been here before. He had seen Nuno Espirito Santo’s West Ham United throw away invaluable points in an almost identical situation.

Gale tore into Nuno Espirito Santo’s tactics, his game-management, and his substitutions as the Hammers let a two-goal lead slip against Bournemouth in November.

Only Newcastle have lost more points from winning positions in the 2025/26 Premier League. West Ham United’s unwanted tally of 19 looked set to increase by two as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall volleyed Everton level with 88 minutes on the clock at the London Stadium.

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Of course, Nuno will get some credit after substitute Callum Wilson scored a stoppage-time winner for the second time in three months.

But for Gale, the victory came almost in spite of their head coach, rather than because of him.

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Tony Gale criticises Nuno Espirito Santo as West Ham United survive Everton scare

While describing Wilson’s tap-in as a ‘get out of jail’ moment for Nuno, he felt that a devastating draw would have been on the manager

“I just think West Ham have got it all wrong by sitting back,” said Gale, who played over 300 games for the Londoners before winning the 1994/95 Premier League title with Blackburn Rovers.

“You just saw [Everton’s equaliser] coming. I think it’s stupidity; West Ham dropping further and further back, inviting the pressure from Everton. Corners, free kicks, and crosses from the wide areas… West Ham have been the masters of their own downfall.”

Wilson’s last-gasp intervention did not save Nuno from some stinging criticism. But at least Gale, who saw the veteran striker’s quickfire brace go to waste against Bournemouth, was on hand to see a happier ending this time around.

“Subs were made that just said, ‘We are going to go back on the defence and invite you on’,” added Gale, who saw Taty Castellanos replaced by midfielder Freddie Potts eight minutes before Dewsbury-Hall lashed home.

“You reap what you sow if you don’t attack these situations, like Nottingham Forest did [in Friday’s 5-0 thrashing of Sunderland].

“You feel you want to be out there as a centre-half yourself and say, ‘Push on, get out!'”

Considering how West Ham would respond to that 88th minute leveller – going for the jugular in the knowledge that a home draw would have been a massive opportunity missed – you could argue that Dewsbury-Hall’s strike was the lighting of the fuse moment before Wilson blew the roof off the place.