West Ham late show eases pressure on Potter

West Ham celebrate Jarrod Bowen's opener at Nottingham Forest

West Ham struck three times in the final six minutes to ease the pressure on under-fire West Ham boss Graham Potter as they earned a deserved win at Nottingham Forest.

Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paqueta's penalty and Callum Wilson's first goal for the club earned the Hammers their first victory after what had looked to have been a damaging start to the season.

Potter will have been comforted by the Hammers' solidity in a forgettable first half given their vulnerability in previous games.

They competed well but lacklustre Forest never stretched them and the visitors created the only opening, Paqueta testing Sels.

Underwhelming Forest failed to make a dent against their organised opponents. Goalkeeper Sels kept the hosts in the game after the break, denying Niclas Fullkrug and Wilson before Bowen's goal and Paqueta's penalty - after Crysencio Summerville was fouled - and Wilson won it.

Boss Nuno Espirito Santo will now hold talks with Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis as he looks to get clarity on the direction of the club after speaking out on what he viewed as slow transfer progress.

Nottingham Forest analysis: One game will not change Marinakis and Nuno talks

The optics of a defeat by a side who had lost their opening two Premier League games before being knocked out of the Carabao Cup in midweek are not good.

Forest were second best in every department and Nuno would have undoubtedly preferred to go into talks with Marinakis on the back of a win.

One game will not change the dynamic of the conversation with both characters willing to be honest with each other.

Nuno and Marinakis have said they do not expect a problem in their discussions - which will happen during the international break rather than immediately after the game.

Nuno himself also stressed the defeat will not have a bearing on the talk, insisting it was important to separate the two issues in an attempt to move forward.

The Portuguese said on Friday he expects to still be in charge after the international break and his stock with the fans remains high, even if there were a smattering of boos at the final whistle.

Supporters respect and admire both men, with the fanbase hoping they can both come to a successful outcome.

West Ham analysis: Evidence of progress for Potter

Graham Potter's double fist-pump celebration at Callum Wilson's third goal was understated, but it will have relieved the growing tension of the opening weeks of the season.

But the Hammers' problems stretch back further than the new term. Including Sunday's win, Potter has overseen just six victories from 24 games since he took charge in January.

His position had been in jeopardy before their trip to Nottingham, following defeats by Sunderland and Chelsea.

Potter now has the same amount of points in one more game than predecessor Julen Lopetegui had before he was dismissed.

The Spaniard was sacked having won 23 points from his 20 top flight games, suggesting there is precedence at the London Stadium for a swift change.

But victory at The City Ground shows there is life in this West Ham side, led by talisman Bowen, and they deserved victory.

What next for these teams?

Nottingham Forest go to Arsenal [13 September] and Burnley [20 September] when they return from the international break, before their European return at Real Betis in the Europa League on 24 September.

After the international break, West Ham host two London derbies with Tottenham [13 September] and Crystal Palace [20 September] coming to the London Stadium.

Where next?

Nuno and Marinakis to hold clear-the-air talks

Potter: West Ham are hurting after poor start