West Ham United manager Nuno Espírito Santo has praised Lincoln City’s supporters after the Hammers recorded a commanding 6-0 victory over the Imps in the Championship on Wednesday, 14 October 2026.
The result saw West Ham match their biggest-ever away league victory, with goals from Konstantinos Mavropanos, Edvin Austbø, captain Jarrod Bowen, Pablo and a late brace from Tomáš Souček.
However, despite the emphatic scoreline, the contest was far from straightforward during the opening stages, as Lincoln attempted to frustrate their visitors before two first-half red cards dramatically changed the game.
The supporters’ response became one of the talking points after the final whistle, with West Ham fans expressing admiration for the home crowd’s determination to continue backing their team despite the heavy defeat.
Two early red cards change the contest
West Ham arrived at Lincoln looking to return to winning ways after a frustrating draw against Queens Park Rangers. The Hammers needed a convincing performance to maintain their push for promotion, and they eventually delivered a result that strengthened their position in the Championship standings.
The match took a dramatic turn just three minutes after kick-off when Lincoln defender Tom Hamer was sent off following a reckless challenge on Joël Veltman.
The situation became even more difficult for the hosts in the 23rd minute when Conor McGrandles received a second red card for bringing down Bowen as the West Ham captain advanced towards goal.
Lincoln were consequently forced to play with nine men for the majority of the encounter, leaving their players with an enormous challenge against a West Ham side determined to take advantage.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, the home team initially defended resolutely, keeping the visitors at bay for much of the first half.
Their resistance was finally broken shortly before half-time when Mavropanos headed home from a Bowen corner to give West Ham a crucial lead.
West Ham turn dominance into a six-goal victory
The second half brought a completely different contest, as West Ham quickly increased their advantage.
Austbø scored shortly after the restart, before Bowen added another goal to put the visitors firmly in control.
Pablo subsequently found the net, while Souček struck twice late in the match to complete the 6-0 victory. Austbø also impressed with a goal and an assist, while Bowen contributed a goal and two assists.
For West Ham, it was a result that demonstrated their attacking potential. For Lincoln, however, the evening became a test of resilience as they attempted to limit the damage with only nine players available on the pitch.
Nuno Espírito Santo’s verdict on the Lincoln crowd
Despite the headline circulating around the match, the verified post-match comments focused on West Ham’s performance and the difficulty of breaking down Lincoln’s defence rather than a shocking criticism of the home supporters.
Nuno acknowledged Lincoln’s efforts, explaining that even with a numerical advantage, West Ham needed patience, good combinations and concentration to secure the result.
He said:
“But credit for Lincoln, even with ten men, they were in the game during the fights, but we had to manage the situation sometimes.”
The West Ham manager also described the victory as a confidence boost and stressed the importance of maintaining momentum ahead of the next fixture.
His assessment offered a more measured picture of the match than the dramatic headline might suggest.
Fans react as Lincoln supporters earn respect
One of the most notable talking points online was the determination of Lincoln’s supporters to continue singing despite their team falling behind.
In a discussion on Reddit’s West Ham community, a fan praised the home crowd for remaining vocal until the final whistle.
Here are some genuine reactions published online:
- West Ham supporter, Reddit: “Props to the Lincoln crowd, kept singing to the end.”
- Another West Ham supporter, Reddit: “The Imps have proper fans.”
- Lincoln City supporter, Reddit: “Best I’ve heard all season. 6-0 down and still singing.”
- Championship discussion, Reddit: “Fair play to the Lincoln fans. Not sure you can read much into a game where one team has 9 players so early on.”
These comments reflect a recurring theme in the reaction: although West Ham deserved credit for their attacking performance, Lincoln’s supporters also earned recognition for staying behind their team during a difficult evening.
Note: Reddit handles were not exposed in the retrieved excerpts, so I have not invented usernames. The comments above are genuine excerpts, but they should not be attributed to named individuals without checking the original threads.
What the result means for West Ham
The 6-0 victory moved West Ham up to third in the Championship standings, with 29 goals scored in their first ten league matches. The club also matched its record for the biggest away league win, previously achieved against Leicester City in 1923.
West Ham will now look to carry that momentum into their upcoming meeting with league leaders Swansea City.
For Lincoln, the priority will be recovering from a difficult defeat and preparing for the next fixture. The two dismissals made the task considerably harder, and head coach Tom Shaw acknowledged that both red-card decisions were justified.
Ultimately, the evening delivered a remarkable scoreline, a major boost for West Ham and an unexpected moment of appreciation for Lincoln’s travelling-free home support.
The Hammers will celebrate their six-goal performance, but the response from supporters online suggests that Lincoln’s fans also left a positive impression despite the result.
