Nuno Espirito Santo takes on West Ham fans’ boycott with orders to players

The new West Ham United boss, Nuno Espirito Santo, wants his players to “ignore” planned protest against the club owners in Monday night’s Sky Sports matcha against Brentford

Nuno Espirito Santo has urged West Ham players to “ignore” a planned fan boycott in his first home match against Brentford. Supporters group Hammers United are organising the protest in a campaign seeking the resignations of chairman David Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady.

The fans wrote to the new Portuguese coach this week insisting they support him and his team. But before Monday’s game live on Sky Sports – where the 19th-placed club are offering Kids for a Quid – the former Wolves, Spurs and Forest boss said: “I wish, I hope, that all our fans could join us and help us against Brentford because it’s going to be very tough.

“We as a group, we as a squad and a group, we ignore, we try to ignore, focus on the tasks and and perform and compete and play well. It’s up to us now to give back to the fans so they can come closer and support us.”

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West Ham have yet to win at home this season and recorded only five victories at the London Stadium in the last campaign under Julen Lopetegui and Graham Potter – the lowest of any team not relegated.

The East London club’s only win this season came against Nuno’s Nottingham Forest back in August in the last match before he was sacked

“It’s very hard to analyse what’s happened before,” he said. “It’s very hard and it’s not fair. What I’m doing is try to improve so we can change everything and become a real fortress.”

Germany striker Niclas Fullkrug will be “out for a while” with a thigh injury suffered in training before the international break. The £19m signing, who has yet to score for the Hammers this season, also suffered a calf injury last month.

“We still are waiting for the results and then we can say exactly what the time is going to be out and all these things,” said the manager. “No estimation at the moment depends on the scam, you know, turns on each player’s own timing.”

It leaves former England striker Callum Wilson, 33, and Northern Ireland’s Callum Marshall, 20, competing for the forward role unless Lucas Paqueta or Jarrod Bowen are redeployed.

“Healthy fight for a position,” said the Portuguese. “I think two different players, two different generations. Both of them can try and solve our problems in attack.”

It will be the new West Ham manager’s first home game after away fixtures at Everton and Arsenal. “I’m looking forward to it,” he said. On facing 16th-placed Brentford, Nuno added: “They are a very organised, team with very good players, players that, been together for some time now.

“So they have, specific routines that we have to, to have and be ready for it. We expect a tough match, but, look, honestly, it’s about us now.

“It’s about how we can compete, how we can be a team. Not, individual, but as a team.”