Nuno Espirito Santo was left seething after controversial VAR decisions contributed to West Ham United's damaging 2-1 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest. The loss dealt a significant blow to the Hammers' hopes of avoiding relegation from the Premier League.

West Ham took the lead when Murillo inadvertently headed a corner into his own net. Moments later, Crysencio Summerville unleashed a shot from the edge of the box, seemingly extending their lead. However, VAR intervened, spotting Taty Castellanos in an offside position during the build-up. The goal was disallowed, a decision that Santo believed was the turning point of the match. Shortly after, Forest capitalized, with Nicolas Dominguez heading in from a corner to equalize.

The drama escalated in the final minutes. As Alphonse Areola, the West Ham goalkeeper, attempted to clear a corner, he made contact with Morgan Gibbs-White's face. Despite no immediate appeals from Forest players, VAR once again took center stage, prompting referee Tony Harrington to review the incident on the pitchside monitor. A penalty was awarded, and Gibbs-White converted, securing a late victory for Nottingham Forest.

Santo expressed his frustration with the penalty decision, arguing that Areola's movement was natural in attempting to clear the ball. He questioned why such incidents often go unpunished and voiced his disappointment with the intervention of VAR.

Adding to the sense of injustice, West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek labeled the penalty "a joke". He lamented the increasing influence of VAR, stating that the Premier League was becoming more like "basketball".

The defeat leaves West Ham in a precarious position, deep in the relegation zone. Nuno Espirito Santo's side have struggled this season, and their form has been very poor overall, winning only 15% of matches. Their home form has been particularly concerning, with only two wins in eleven games. The team's struggles are further highlighted by the fact that they have never had fewer points at this stage of the season since their return to the Premier League in 2012.

West Ham's VAR record last season saw 8 decisions go against them and only 4 in their favor, placing them second-bottom in the VAR overturn table. This season continues to add to the list of controversial decisions.

Despite the daunting situation, Santo remained defiant, asserting that the team must continue to believe and work hard to turn their fortunes around. However, the immediate future looks bleak for West Ham as they face an uphill battle to retain their Premier League status.