Nuno Espirito Santo saw West Ham move top of the Sky Bet Championship table on goal difference with a 3-2 comeback win at Bolton but admitted: “It was tough and very demanding.”
Thanks to talisman skipper Jarrod Bowen, the Hammers recorded a first ever win at the Toughsheet Community Stadium and a first on Bolton soil for 31 years.
The England international added a 77th-minute winner to a 13th-minute opener, with Konstantinos Mavropanos heading the Londoners level after Bolton struck twice in nine minutes through Ethan Erhahon and a Ruben Rodrigues penalty to hit the front.
“Bolton played a fantastic game and created enormous problems for us,” said relieved Hammers chief Nuno. “So we had to react and be resilient when we needed to be.
“We must realise every team has threats and quality players. But so have we and we controlled it much better in the second half.
“The boys worked so hard for it so I am very happy. However, we all have to improve but first of all, we try to sustain the level which is hard in this league.
“I hope it (the future) is better,” he added. “The belief of everyone, starting with the ownership, the staff, the players and the fans, we are trying to have better days.
“What I see and what I feel is unity in all departments of the club which is very important.”
Bowen has scored five times this season, including three in the league as West Ham won for a third successive match.
“He is our skipper and he leads by example,” added Santo of Bowen’s latest contribution.
Bolton’s fourth successive defeat dropped them into the bottom three with a game on Saturday against fellow slow starters Cardiff.
But boss Steven Schumacher said: “If we keep playing well the results will come.
“We thought we could take points off West Ham and we nearly did. I actually don’t think we have deserved to lose any of the four games we have.
“I don’t want to sound patronising but the lads are playing extremely well, competing with top teams, showing good team spirit, carrying out the game plan and creating some good chances and opportunities.
“It reminds me of last year when we drew five games on the spin and couldn’t get over the line.
“In this league it is less forgiving, more punishing. The games we played last year and drew and not getting over the line, we are losing this year.
“That is the standard, this is what we worked so hard in League One to get to. So I am pleased with what we did apart from the scoreline.”
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