Former West Ham United captain Nigel Reo-Coker is warning Nuno Espirito Santo’s current crop against ‘arrogance’ as they look to secure their third Premier League promotion of the 21st Century.

Reo-Coker skippered Alan Pardew’s Hammers to play-off glory back in 2005. A man who made nearly 150 appearances over three seasons is hoping to see his beloved former employers return to the top-flight at the first time of asking this campaign, just like they did under Sam Allardyce in 2011/12.

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Tomas Soucek of West Ham United celebrates with teammates after scoring the team's fifth goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Lincoln City and West Ham United at the Gelder Group Sincil Bank Stadium in Lincoln, on October 14, 2026.

And after Southampton joined Charlton Athletic in beating Nuno’s inconsistent side at the London Stadium, a jeering home crowd feared that lightning was striking for a third time when Felix Horn Myhre put the Baggies ahead in the 20th minute. Jarrod Bowen would level with his seventh of the season before the break, after the current skipper was passed fit following an ankle knock in training.

Nigel Reo-Coker thinks West Ham United should heed Jarrod Bowen’s words

Speaking to CBS Sport, Reo-Coker is backing Bowen to achieve what he managed via a Millennium Stadium victory over Preston North End 21 years ago. He also feels that complacency may be the biggest pitfall facing a side who many tipped to run away with the title in pre-season.

“Sometimes there is that arrogance. After being relegated from the Premier League, you think it’s going to be a walk in the park,” says Reo-Coker, who also represented Aston Villa, Bolton Wanderers and Ipswich Town.

“But the Championship doesn’t respect anyone. You’ve got to go out and earn it. Bowen himself said it’s not going to be given to us because we’re West Ham. You have to go all the way to the end and fight to get a result.

“That’s the mindset players struggle with; to get that consistency week-in, week-out to get the job done. It doesn’t have to be pretty. It doesn’t have to be great football. You need to get the three points to sit up near the top of the table.”

Bowen knows the Hammers must up their game as West Brom pose a challenge

Hammers News have been told that, while Nuno retains the backing of majority owner Daniel Kretinsky, three defeats before the international break against West Brom, Cardiff and Blackburn would shake that confidence. Currently 1-1, Nuno has 45 minutes to avoid incurring some awkward questions then with a trip to South Wales looming in midweek.

“This is our second of two home matches in a row and we are all eager to bounce back from last Saturday’s frustrating defeat by Southampton,” Bowen wrote in his promotion notes, backing up what Reo-Coker would say some 24 hours later.

“We know we have to be better at both ends of the pitch – to defend better, to attack better, to control the game better. We face another team who have made a good start to the season on Saturday. West Brom have won the same number of league games as us and are just a point behind us.

“We know how much talent we’ve got in our squad too, though, and it’s just a matter of maximising it. We know we can’t afford to start games slowly and the Head Coach sat us down and talked about that this week.”