West Ham United boss takes lessons from Portsmouth Carabao Cup dominance

West Ham were second best to Pompey for long periods of the first half in the Carabao Cup first round clash. The former Spurs and Wolves boss sees the need to learn from that, as his side came through to take victory.

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Nuno Espirito Santo believes West Ham need to learn from Pompey’s powerful Carabao Cup opening against his side.

And the Hammers boss saluted a landmark turnout in the first round of the competition, as his side progressed with a 3-1 success over John Mousinho’s side.

West Ham came from behind to pick up the victory, as the Blues flew out of the traps on their first visit to London Stadium.

West Ham boss on Pompey’s first half: ‘This has to be a lesson for us’

Pompey dominated possession in the first half and their pressure was rewarded with Adrian Segečić’s 33rd-minute opener, as frustration grew among the home crowd.

The visitor’s work was undone by two goals in two minutes before the break, however, with West Ham adding a third after the restart.

Santo said: ‘I think it was a good performance, but we didn't start the game well.

‘This has to be a lesson for us to understand what the game requires. We didn't go in the flow of the game, we just only started really playing the way we wanted to after we scored, and then we started combining, and after that it was a very good performance of the boys.

‘The goals were all good combinations, but it's what I'm telling you.

‘I’m delighted that happened, I want to see that, and we need to see that many, many times.

‘Because this is how we want to do things, and the boys, when they score, they get confidence, and you can see that everything changed from there on. So, that’s very good.

‘We must, from minute one, just try to do better.’

The game proved to be a Carabao Cup landmark, with 9,000 Pompey fans making their maiden visit to West Ham’s home in Stratford.

That contributed to an attendance of 53,369, which proved to be a record for the first round of the competition.

Santo added: ‘When we started the season, we had 50,000 fans in the Carabao Cup, breaking records, ‘Portsmouth bringing 9,000 fans, the stadium was a full house.

‘It was amazing. Just having 50,000 seats filled already, we cannot thank them enough.

‘We don't have words to express how grateful we are. It's up to us to give them back.’

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The aim is clear for West Ham this season, as they begin the campaign as favourites to make an immediate return to the Premier League.

That challenge begins with a testing opening day trip to fellow relegated outfit Burnley.

Santo added: ‘We have to work to get better every day.

‘It's good that this game is better for us to prepare, but we know that the next one is going to be really, really hard.

‘We are trying to improve.

‘Everybody is aware that we need players in the squad, we need to get things, but we are taking our time, so we are not making mistakes, but we are delighted with the way the players are working on a daily basis.

‘Who comes must bring us something different and improve us. I think we can afford some time, not too much.’