Nuno Espirito Santo has identified the London Stadium as one of West Ham's most significant assets in the Championship, after 59,712 supporters watched his side thrash Wrexham 6-0 and return to the top of the second-tier table.

Speaking to BBC Radio London after Friday's result, the head coach was careful not to overstate the significance of the scoreline, but he was forthright about what those numbers in the stands represent for a club in the second tier.

"We just focus on ourselves and realise London Stadium is a big strength that we have, to try to take advantage of 60,000 fans who give us so much that we have to try to give back," Nuno said.

The stadium question

The London Stadium has attracted its share of criticism since West Ham relocated from Upton Park in 2016. The running track around the perimeter keeps supporters further from the pitch than is typical in English football, and the atmosphere has been a recurring talking point. A crowd close to 60,000 in the Championship, however, is a figure most second-tier clubs can barely imagine: the division's average league attendance typically sits somewhere between 15,000 and 20,000, and even the better-supported sides seldom approach 30,000 on a regular basis.

Nuno acknowledged that a winning team changes the equation. With four consecutive victories now behind them and West Ham sitting top of the table, he suggested the ground can become something closer to a fortress, provided the results keep coming.

"It's not about sending messages, it's about internally realising that today is good, tomorrow is going to be harder and we have to keep on going," he said. That is understated enough to read as genuine rather than as press-release management, though the head coach was understandably reluctant to be drawn on what the win over Wrexham might signal about the campaign as a whole.

Goals from across the forward line

The 6-0 victory was built on contributions from across the attacking unit. Joel Piroe and Taty Castellanos both scored, as did Jarrod Bowen, Manor Solomon, and Mohamadou Kante, with the latter finding the net after coming off the bench. For a squad still in the process of gelling following last season's relegation from the top flight, that breadth of contribution will matter as much as the margin of victory.

"It will boost their confidence for all the players, with the forward line scoring, good combinations, and players coming from the bench with energy, a very positive day for us," Nuno said. He pointed specifically to training-ground patterns beginning to show up in matches: "The positive is that we start seeing things that we repeat over and over again at Rush Green, with players gelling and combining."

A long road ahead

Despite sitting top of the division, Nuno was at pains to keep expectations in check. "There are many teams in our league with the same expectations," he said. "Since day one we have a clear goal but we know it is a long long way to go." That is the kind of caution that managers in the Championship learn quickly: a promotion race across 46 games punishes complacency, and the squads behind West Ham will not be standing still.

What the London Stadium figures do confirm is that the club has retained a substantial fanbase even after dropping out of the Premier League. Whether that translates into sustained home advantage, or whether the ground's layout continues to dilute the noise, remains something supporters will debate throughout the season. Nuno's argument is that 60,000 people, fully committed, represent a resource no other club in the division can match. The next few months will test that theory properly.

Frequently asked

What was the attendance for West Ham vs Wrexham in the Championship?
A crowd of 59,712 attended the London Stadium for West Ham's 6-0 Championship win over Wrexham.
What did Nuno say about the London Stadium atmosphere in the Championship?
Nuno Espirito Santo said the London Stadium is a big strength for West Ham, describing almost 60,000 supporters as a significant advantage in the second tier.
Are West Ham top of the Championship?
Yes, West Ham returned to the top of the Championship table after their 6-0 victory over Wrexham, making it four consecutive wins.