West Ham Expected to Sack Nuno Espirito Santo If Nottingham Forest Win Relegation Six-Pointer

Two Premier League managers have already lost their jobs in the first week of 2026 and a third casualty might not be far behind.

Enzo Maresca left Chelsea on New Year’s Day despite winning the FIFA Club World Cup less than six months ago. Maresca’s Chelsea record also included a triumph in the UEFA Europa Conference League, while his overall win-rate in the job was 59.78%.

Maresca performed significantly better at Chelsea than Ruben Amorim did at Manchester United. On Monday, Amorim was sacked after recording the lowest win-rate (38.10%) of any Man United boss since 1972.

Nuno Espirito Santo could be the third Premier League manager sacked in 2026

Following the dismissals of Maresca and Amorim, West Ham United boss Nuno Espirito Santo is now the odds-on favourite to be the next Premier League manager to leave his post.

Espirito Santo was only appointed by the Hammers on September 27 and has a contract until June 2028.

However, it is understood that a bad result at home to Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night would be enough to force the West Ham owners to sack him.

The game against Forest, who themselves sacked Espirito Santo on September 9, will be the Portuguese coach’s 16th fixture in charge of the London Stadium club.

Espirito Santo has so far overseen just two victories and five draws, as well as eight defeats. His current win-rate is a grim 13.33%. It would reduce to 12.50% if his side fail to beat Forest.

Even more alarmingly, a loss to Forest would see West Ham fall seven points adrift of 17th place in the Premier League table, dramatically increasing the likelihood of relegation.

Forest will start the game four points above the Hammers, making Tuesday’s contest a genuine relegation six-pointer.

Bottom of the Premier League table after 20 rounds of fixtures

Team	MP	W	D	L	GD	Pts
15. Bournemouth	20	5	8	7	-7	23
16. Leeds	20	5	7	8	-7	22
17. Nottm Forest	20	5	3	12	-14	18
18. West Ham	20	3	5	12	-20	14
19. Burnley	20	3	3	14	-19	12
20. Wolves	20	1	3	16	-26	6

West Ham’s dismal form under Espirito Santo

West Ham’s only two wins under Espirito Santo came in early November when they beat Newcastle and Burnley in back-to-back home games.

They have since picked up four draws and suffered five defeats, including Saturday’s 3-0 humbling away at Wolves, who had previously gone 19 games without a win.

It is believed that West Ham going 10 games without a victory would be seen as a step too far in the wrong direction and make a change of management inevitable.

What if West Ham beat Forest?

While a defeat by Forest would likely signal the end of Espirito Santo’s West Ham career, a victory has the potential to kickstart it.

Tuesday night’s game could move West Ham to within one point of Premier League safety, with a further win potentially lifting them out of the relegation zone as soon as January 17, when they visit fierce rivals Tottenham.

Only Wolves have won fewer home games than Spurs in the Premier League this season.

West Ham’s remaining Premier League fixtures this season

Date	Fixture
Jan 6	West Ham v Nottm Forest
Jan 17	Tottenham v West Ham
Jan 24	West Ham v Sunderland
Jan 31	Chelsea v West Ham
Feb 7	Burnley v West Ham
Feb 10	West Ham v Man Utd
Feb 21	West Ham v Bournemouth
Feb 28	Liverpool v West Ham
Mar 4	Fulham v West Ham
Mar 14	West Ham v Man City
Mar 21	Aston Villa v West Ham
Apr 11	West Ham v Wolves
Apr 18	Crystal Palace v West Ham
Apr 25	West Ham v Everton
May 2	Brentford v West Ham
May 9	West Ham v Arsenal
May 17	Newcastle v West Ham
May 24	West Ham v Leeds