Nuno Espirito Santo did not reach for euphemism after Saturday's 2-1 home defeat by Charlton Athletic. "There were 62,000 people in the stands," he said, "and we let them down." It was, he added, "the more disappointing feeling" of a start to the Championship campaign that has produced just one point from two matches.

How the afternoon unravelled

Charlton, competing in the second tier themselves this season, arrived at London Stadium as the underdogs and left with all three points. Lloyd Jones headed the visitors in front as early as the seventh minute, the goal stemming from a long throw-in that West Ham allowed to bounce unchallenged inside their own penalty area. It was the sort of elementary defensive lapse that Nuno will have expected his backline to have long since ironed out.

Tyreece Campbell made it 2-0 after the interval when Konstantinos Mavropanos was dispossessed near his own box, handing Charlton the kind of gift that well-drilled lower-spending sides know to accept gratefully. West Ham pulled one back but could not find an equaliser, and Taty Castellanos compounded the misery by missing a stoppage-time penalty that would have salvaged a point.

The numbers tell a frustrating story

The statistics will make grim reading for West Ham supporters who hoped for a fast start following relegation. Nuno's side finished with more than 77 per cent of possession and an expected goals total of 2.96 against Charlton's 0.57. Charlton, in other words, scored twice from under a goal's worth of clear chances. West Ham created nearly three goals' worth and converted one.

"We created a lot of situations but we weren't accurate enough in the boxes," Nuno said, before adding that his team must also "defend much better." Both things are true. Dominant possession is an asset, but it offers little protection when the opposition score from a bouncing long throw and a midfield turnover.

The broader pattern across two matches is now established. In the opening fixture at Burnley, West Ham led 2-0 and drew 2-2. At home against Charlton, they were outscored by a team that barely threatened. One point from six available is not a crisis in August, but for a club whose wage structure and resources make them heavy favourites for automatic promotion, it is the kind of start that invites early scrutiny.

Nuno insists the process holds

The manager pushed back against suggestions that he personally feels the heat of expectation. "It's West Ham, the pressure is every day," he said. "It's a big club." He also rejected the idea that a 62,000-strong crowd could intimidate his own players, though the result rather undermined the point. On the evidence of two matches, the atmosphere has not yet translated into home advantage.

Nuno struck a determinedly optimistic note about the campaign ahead, using the phrase "repeat, repeat, repeat" to describe his approach to improving combination play in the final third. Whether that message lands with supporters who have now watched their side throw away leads in consecutive games is another matter. "Keep the belief in the process," he said. That is, of course, precisely what managers say when results have not yet followed intent.

What comes next

West Ham's next league fixtures bring Watford and Wolves, both of whom started the season unbeaten. For Charlton, this result carries genuine significance: an away win at a ground with more than 62,000 in attendance is a statement, however early in the season, and Nuno's frank admission that his side were second best will do nothing to diminish that.

The Championship has a habit of punishing complacency and rewarding organisation. Charlton's performance here was a reasonable illustration of both virtues. West Ham will need to find theirs quickly.

Frequently asked

What was the score when West Ham played Charlton?
Charlton Athletic beat West Ham 2-1 at London Stadium on Saturday 22 August. Lloyd Jones and Tyreece Campbell scored for Charlton, with West Ham pulling one back before missing a late penalty.
How many points do West Ham have after two Championship games?
West Ham have taken just one point from their opening two Championship matches, drawing 2-2 at Burnley on the opening day before losing 2-1 at home to Charlton.
What did Nuno say after the Charlton defeat?
Nuno Espirito Santo said West Ham "let down" their supporters, pointing to the 62,000 fans at London Stadium. He acknowledged his side must be more accurate in front of goal and defend better, while insisting he retains belief in his approach.