Nuno Espirito Santo has warned West Ham that they are "going to have problems" this season after their 2-0 defeat to Brentford. The former Nottingham Forest manager has now been in charge for three games, but he is yet to oversee a victory, after drawing with Everton and losing to both Arsenal and the Bees.

West Ham's dismal start

The Hammers have endured a crisis at the start of the season, sacking Graham Potter and appointing Nuno in his stead. The Hammers have won just one of their opening eight games and sit 19th in the Premier League table, just two points ahead of rock-bottom Wolves. They have conceded 18 goals, more than anyone else in the Premier League, and have only scored six, the second-lowest number of the 20 sides in the league. Now, Nuno has warned his players that they must improve if they are to fight their way out of relegation trouble. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportNuno's sobering warning

The Portuguese, who left Forest in acrimonious circumstances earlier this season, told reporters: "It's that we still have problems. We are going to have problems. We didn't play good enough and the realisation that we have to improve.

"Concerns that the improvement must come from the players individually – they need to win their own games, the duels and then for sure, as a team we are going to improve.

"Annoyed is not the word. I was frustrated because we started the game really well in the first 20 minutes. But we weren't able to sustain it. That was the main disappointment."

He added: "It's up to us to connect the fans again. It's up to us that the fans go to the stadium and they enjoy and that they are on our side.

"I felt it on the players. They were rushing their decisions. We have quality and talent enough to make those passes but it wasn't happening. You have to tell to the players play their game and try to ignore other things.

"We are not getting enough points – that's the main issue. To do that, we must improve our game. We must play better – home and away and in training sessions. No matter where."

Asked if a January splurge could save the Irons, he added: "The reality is that it's us who are going to solve our problems. Us who are in the building.

"Not who is out. Us here. We must solve our own problems."

Nuno urges Hammers to harness frustration

The former Tottenham boss has urged his players to harness their frustration at such a poor start as the Irons look to carve a path back up the table. 

He added: "When the game against Brentford finished, we need to take the frustration, commitment and motivation so that we can play better. This is the step we need to take.

"Individually we have to improve our players. We need to improve their fitness, tactical awareness – everything. Then, we concede a lot of set-pieces – too much – but we defend them pretty well. We are improving on that but we need to improve on not conceding.

"Some of them are easy situations we can solve. So we are working on that. It's not only set-pieces or being compact. It's about improving overall.

"We didn't do enough offensively against Brentford. We need to have the freedom to attack. But it's difficult to find that balance."

Getty Images SportWhat comes next?

West Ham face Leeds this weekend in a huge game at the bottom end of the Premier League table. Daniel Farke's side sit 16th, with eight points from their opening eight games. They have won two and drawn two of those fixtures, and will hope to take three more points from the hapless Hammers this weekend. 

Farke has already said his team are excited about the encounter, saying: “Like always, I expect a difficult game. West Ham are a well-established Premier League side. They have high individual quality, many, many very experienced and quality players for this level.

“In the offence and midfield, also in the defence, they have with Nuno a very, very experienced coach at this level. You have a very, very experienced and quality coach and you have also quality players. These players make sure, and I have also spoken after the game, we have to deliver the basics.

“When they are switched on at this moment, then you can tell that this team will show a good performance and it will be difficult to beat them. This is what I definitely expect. I would rather play against a team that perhaps underestimates a newly promoted side. I think especially after last Monday, they will be pretty much on it.

“Still, West Ham are a very, very experienced, established Premier League side. I expect a difficult game for us but nevertheless at this level, each of the games is difficult. We know that especially in home games, we have a good chance to win some points. We have shown this more or less in each of the home games so far. For that, we also don’t go into this game with fear.

“We are looking forward to this game and want to deliver a good performance and hopefully also the right result."