West Ham left Vicarage Road with one point from their Championship fixture against Watford on 29 August, and manager Nuno Espirito Santo made clear he expected his side to return with three.

"Overall, we dominated the game, even though we conceded first," Nuno told BBC Radio London after the final whistle. "We created a lot of situations in the second half, many, many situations, so overall I think we should get more from the game."

Conceding first, responding second

Watford drew blood before West Ham found their rhythm, leaving the visitors to chase the match for much of the first half. When the equaliser came, it brought West Ham level but failed to unlock a winning goal despite sustained pressure after the break. Nuno's frustration centred on precisely that second-half spell: his team generated the chances but could not convert them into the lead their performance warranted.

It is a theme that has surfaced before this season. West Ham have shown enough quality in large portions of matches to suggest they belong at the top of the division, yet a persistent inability to turn dominance into decisive moments has cost them points they will need if their promotion push is to gather pace.

Nuno acknowledges the weight of expectation

Asked how he frames the Championship challenge for his squad, the West Ham boss was direct. "Realising that we are favourites and it is our goal, the message is simple: we have to go back to the Premier League, realising how hard it is. We don't get away from our responsibilities, we want to go back."

Those words carry significance. Nuno is not shying away from the pressure that comes with managing a club of West Ham's resources in the second tier. The aim is promotion, and anything short of it will be judged a failure. That frankness sets a clear standard for his players, but it also increases the cost of dropped points at grounds like Vicarage Road.

What the result means for both clubs

For Watford, a point against one of the division's better-resourced sides represents a reasonable return. The Hornets have been building steadily under their own manager, and holding West Ham to a share of the spoils at home underlines that they will not make life easy for any opponent this season.

West Ham, by contrast, pocket a single point when they will feel three were available. With early-season pressure already mounting, as the table began to clarify in August, every dropped point sharpens the margin for error. Nuno's side have the squad depth to respond, but the second half at Watford was a reminder that dominating possession and territory counts for little without the goal that separates winners from the chasing pack.

The Championship punishes complacency across a 46-game campaign, and West Ham's task now is to convert their evident superiority in passages of play into the results that reflect it. On this evidence, the quality is present; the clinical edge must follow.

Frequently asked

What was the result of West Ham vs Watford in the Championship?
The match ended 1-1, with Watford scoring first and West Ham equalising. West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo said his side deserved more than a point.
What did Nuno say after the Watford draw?
Nuno told BBC Radio London that West Ham dominated the game, created many chances in the second half, and should have taken more than one point from the fixture.
Are West Ham aiming for promotion from the Championship?
Yes. Nuno Espirito Santo has stated clearly that the club's goal is to return to the top flight, describing West Ham as favourites and saying they do not shy away from that responsibility.