Premier League legend Alan Shearer launched a scathing attack on West Ham United, labelling their performance 'pathetic' after a dismal 3-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.
Shearer's Scathing Verdict on 'Awful' Hammers
The heavy loss at Molineux on Saturday, 4th January 2026, was a devastating blow for the struggling Hammers, who began the match already four points from Premier League safety. Shearer, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, did not mince his words in his assessment of the display.
"[West Ham] were awful," Shearer stated. "I don't like using the word, but West Ham were pathetic. They offered nothing. Players pulling out of challenges, not throwing themselves at the ball, it was as bad as I've seen from any team."
Santo Admits to 'Embarrassing' and Worst Performance
The result was especially shocking given Wolves had failed to win any of their first 19 games of the season. Manager Nuno Espirito Santo, known for organising disciplined sides, was equally damning in his post-match comments, fully agreeing with the 'embarrassing' description.
"It was embarrassing," Santo admitted. "Today was the worst performance that we have had. I don't recall one day that I felt so bad on a football pitch." He emphasised the need for a drastic improvement, calling for more effort, reaction, and character from his players.
Santo shifted focus away from speculation about his own future, insisting the priority was finding a way to climb the table. "It's not about my future. It's about how can we get out of this situation," he said.
Relegation Fears Mount for Struggling West Ham
The defeat leaves West Ham's survival hopes in a precarious state. They remain four points adrift of Nottingham Forest, who also lost, but are a concerning seven points behind Leeds United in 17th place. Leeds also hold a game in hand, threatening to pull further away.
With Forest appearing more robust under Sean Dyche, West Ham's path to safety looks increasingly difficult unless they can spark an immediate turnaround. Despite the bleak outlook, Santo pointed to the number of games remaining as a source of slim optimism.
"There are still lots of points [to play for]," he noted. "There's a lot of football to be played, [but] it's about realising that we cannot repeat these kinds of performances. We must do much better."
