Such is the trust that [Nuno Espírito Santo](https://www.claretandhugh.info/west-ham-vs-manchester-city-preview-team-news-predicted-line-ups/) has won at West Ham that there was hardly a murmur when the much-changed team was announced for yesterdays encounter against former Champions Manchester City.
The Hammers’ boss has come a long way from the ‘experimentations’ that saw key players out of position and points thrown away in those early games: Despite a thrilling FA Cup victory against Brentford on Monday night, Nuno switched his team with three at the back and ‘Fonz Areola dropped in favour of Mads Hermansen.
Even just a couple of months ago that would have been enough to ‘trigger’ Irons fans who saw the Dane as a huge Hammers liability.
**Mads Hermansen** has just kept on doing what he does and has slowly won over the doubters. Last night’s string of fine saves served to stamp his authority back on the game – even after the Bernardo Silva ‘chip’ eluded him.
Finally looking like he belongs” Mads Hermansen
However unlike his early season form, what followed after the lobbed goal that sailed agonisingly over his outstretched hand was no crumbling of confidence, no capitulation by the goal keeper or his team mates.
Hermansen carried on with a series of saves including the stop from Haaland which was, in Joe Cole’s words: _“an incredible save_ “- from co-commentator Ally McCoist : _“It’s an excellent save because it goes through the defenders legs – a brilliant save, he sees it late” ._
There’s more to his play than being ‘just’ a shot stopper: Hermansen recycles the ball so fast to his midfield, thanks to some nifty footwork, that opponents don’t get the chance to set up for a high press. Something often overlooked, but another key difference between the Dane and his French counterpart at West Ham.
Plaudits will ring out for the whole Hammers back line who fought with tenacity and concentration for 97 solid minutes. But the quiet, unassuming Dane should be justly proud of completing his own triumph over early season disaster to rescue his own career and now stand at the head of the queue to don the gloves in the remainder of West Ham’s survival fight.