A massed, lunchtime protest march against the West Ham United board had been followed by a heartfelt pre-match Remembrance ceremony that honoured the fallen before Nuno Espírito Santo secured his second Stratford success inside seven days.
“We’ve now had two good wins and it’s a job well done,” beamed the joyous Hammers head coach after picking up another three precious points with a 3-2 victory that saw Callum Wilson wipe-out Zian Flemming’s opener before second-half substitutes Tomáš Soucek and Kyle Walker-Peters put the hosts in the driving-seat, ahead of a late reply from Clarets’ captain Josh Cullen.
“There’s no better feeling than this because it’s a result that changes everything. It’s been a special day. We’re getting closer to finding the right combinations and balance and now we must take advantage of this momentum.
“I also look at the team’s relationship with the fans - we are giving them something in small steps and, as we’ve seen today, they’re returning it one-thousand times more.”
Unchanged following their 3-1 win over Newcastle United six days earlier, West Ham fell behind 10 minutes before the break, when Flemming was allowed to meet Lesley Ugochukwu’s right-wing cross with a well-placed header.
But with his side looking set to depart with an interval lead, former Hammers midfielder Scott Parker then saw Crysencio Summerville’s shot deflect off Maxime Estéve, leaving Wilson to nod home a 44th-minute equaliser.
On the hour, a dead leg ended another industrious Freddie Potts’ performance and, a quarter-hour after again stepping from the bench, super-sub Soucek made it two goals in two games, when he chested home after ‘keeper Martin Dubravka fumbled Lucas Paquetá’s routine ball into the goalmouth.
Nuno Espírito Santo is all smiles after West Ham have back-to-back wins _(Image: Steve Blowers)_
“I faced West Ham many times and it was always important to stop Tomáš from getting into the penalty box because he finds space and holds a belief that many players do not have,” revealed Nuno.
“Tomáš is an important player, who’s made over 250 appearances for this football club. That’s huge. He gives it his all and he’ll deliver for us in any position. I’ve nothing but love and respect for him.”
With three minutes remaining, Soucek turned provider when Dubravka failed to hold his low 20-yarder and fellow substitute Walker-Peters slid over the line a split-second ahead of skipper Bowen, who was making his 250th outing in Claret & Blue.
“The boys who came off the bench hit the ground running to help the team,” acknowledged Nuno. “They’ve proved we need all of our squad.”
Although Alphonse Areola spilled Hannibal Mejbri’s long-ranger, allowing Cullen to toe-poke home with virtually the last kick, the former Academy of Football graduate’s consolation came far too late to prevent West Ham – in 18th spot - from going level on points with the visitors, who remain one place above them.
“It’s not a priority to look at the Premier League table at the moment, it’s more important that we continue our improvement,” insisted Nuno who – next-up - faces a tricky trip to AFC Bournemouth on November 22 (kick-off 3 pm).
“These things take time but we’re beginning to gel and are trying new ideas which has to be a two-way thing with the players. It helps that we’re now starting to get results because the boys will gain more belief.
"We’ve been pushing them really hard both mentally and physically and it’s good that they now have the international break so that we are all ready to go again.”