A reporter has revealed what West Ham fans did to their own players and Nuno Espirito Santo has leapt to their defence.
West Ham look all but down after making it three Premier League defeats on the bounce at the worst possible time.
The dismal 3-1 defeat at Newcastle, where Nuno Espirito Santo was heavily criticised for his tactics and team selection, means West Ham will be relegated if Spurs get a point or more at Chelsea.
A win for Tottenham at Stamford Bridge will make West Ham’s relegation official whereas a point means the club’s 14-year stay in the top flight will be over due to the huge gulf in goal difference between the two sides.
Footage shows West Ham fans tearing into their own players
The blame game has been ongoing at West Ham for some time now.
But the inquest into the disastrous decline in east London has started in earnest following the pathetic performance at St James’ Park.
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Hammers supporters have been backing their team all season, especially since the upturn in form since January.
Fans have laid the blame for the club’s mess squarely at the door of the owners and former manager Graham Potter.
Nuno has also come in for some criticism for costing West Ham dear with some of his bizarre line-ups and formations.
The game at Newcastle saw the West Ham faithful turn on the players, though.
A reporter has revealed what West Ham fans did to their own stars as Nuno leaps to their defence.
The Athletic’s West Ham reporter Roshane Thomas revealed the club’s loyal away following turned on the players when they came over to thank them after the Newcastle defeat.
Nuno defends West Ham fans angry at him and his team
“West Ham fans singing “you’re not fit to wear the shirt” to the players,” Thomas said on X.
Footage, which you can see below, has since emerged online showing Hammers fans venting at the players.
West Ham’s away following are well used to watching the team lose down the years.
Expectations are different on the road.
We are all but relegated — how would you feel about keeping Nuno in the Championship? 🧑💼
Or was that performance the last straw? 😡
So when you lose the away fans, it really is dire straits.
Nuno clearly knows the score too.
Because rather than defend his players as most managers tend to when supporters get on their backs, Nuno has actually spoken up for the fans and their right to be angry with him and the team.
“Of course I understand (the fans’ angry reaction to him and the players].” Nuno told the press, as reported on BBC Sport.
“They are frustrated and disappointed with what they saw, and with (good) reason.
“The way we started the game was really bad, but we have been trying to improve and get better. This was not a step forward. We have to realise our situation is very difficult, there is a lot of anxiety and nerves. These things don’t help, but we have to take responsibility.”
In a further interview with the club’s official website, the manager again said he was sorry.
“I apologise to our fans,” Nuno said on West Ham’s official website.
“They showed their frustration and with (good) reason when they see a team that doesn’t make them proud.
“It’s right, it’s right (the fans react the way they did) and we didn’t make ourselves or them proud.
“Our final match of the season (against Leeds) is going to be in London Stadium and we owe it to our fans to show a better performance.”
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