Four wins. Sixteen goals. Top of the Championship table. A month ago, the mood around West Ham was fractious; now it feels genuinely optimistic. So what has actually changed, and does the evidence support the belief that this is a proper turning point rather than a flattering run of fixtures?

A shift in approach under Nuno

The clearest change has been tactical. A persistent complaint from West Ham supporters earlier in the season was that the team would take a lead and then drop deep, inviting pressure and, too often, conceding to draw or lose. That pattern appears to have been addressed. Across the last four matches, the team has continued to push forward after scoring, treating attack as the best form of defence rather than retreating into a shell.

The 6-0 win over Wrexham is the most vivid illustration. Nuno's side did not ease up at 3-0 or 4-0; they kept playing at the same tempo through to the final whistle. That kind of mentality is hard to manufacture and, whether it stems from a tactical instruction or a shift in confidence among the players themselves, it has produced very watchable football.

It is worth being honest about the limits of what we can conclude from four games, though. A run like this can reflect genuine improvement, a run of accommodating opponents, or simply a period in which an attack-minded approach happens to align with the fixtures. We do not yet have enough to say definitively which it is.

The goal threat is real, the defensive question is not settled

Sixteen goals in four Championship matches is a significant number by any measure. The attack is clearly clicking in a way it had not been earlier in the campaign, and the lack of creativity in midfield that has been a concern all season appears, for now, to be masked by the sheer volume of forward play.

Yet the underlying concern is genuine: needing to score three goals or more simply to feel comfortable in a game is not a sustainable model over a 46-match season. A sterner defensive test, or an injury to a key forward, could expose that reliance very quickly.

The clean sheet against Wrexham offered a small but meaningful reassurance. If West Ham can combine even a modest improvement at the back with the current attacking output, the balance of the side becomes considerably more dangerous. But one clean sheet does not rewrite a defensive record, and Millwall away is among the upcoming fixtures. The Championship's more physical, set-piece-oriented sides will test that backline in ways Wrexham could not.

Squad rotation: a tactical strength, not a compromise

One underappreciated element of the recent run has been how Nuno has managed his squad. Substitutions have been used to keep players fresh rather than to chase games from losing positions, which is a subtle but important distinction. The ability to rotate without losing momentum is a genuine asset in a division where congested fixture lists wear squads down by February.

Keeping a League Cup run alive alongside this Championship form adds another layer of complexity, but so far it has not come at the cost of league performance. That, too, is credit to how the manager has balanced his resources.

The bigger picture

West Ham are top of the Championship and, however one qualifies the caveat, that is a fact. The pressure on Nuno that had been building among supporters has eased noticeably, and a team that now appears to win even when not at its very best is a more dangerous proposition than one that requires perfection to get three points.

The honest assessment is this: the form is real, the goals are real, and the table position is real. Whether it is sustainable through a tough run of fixtures is the question the next month will answer. For now, there is genuine reason for optimism at West Ham, and plenty of reason for rivals in the top half to take notice.

Frequently asked

Are West Ham top of the Championship?
Yes. Following four consecutive wins and 16 goals scored, West Ham sit at the top of the Championship table.
How has Nuno set up West Ham recently?
Nuno has encouraged the side to keep pushing forward after taking the lead, rather than sitting deep, and has used squad rotation effectively to keep players fresh across a busy fixture list.
Can West Ham maintain their form in the Championship this season?
That remains to be seen. The attack has been prolific, but the team has historically needed to score heavily to win, and upcoming fixtures, including a trip to Millwall, will test whether the improvement is sustainable.