Graham Potter already on way to West Ham sack as shocking stat emerges after Sunderland loss
Graham Potter’s side got their Premier League campaign off to the worst possible start against Sunderland on Saturday.
West Ham were thumped 3-0 by Sunderland, with second-half goals coming from Eliezer Mayenda, Dan Ballard, and Wilson Isidor.
Hammers standout El Hadji Malick Diouf had gone close to opening the scoring in the first half, before Mayenda’s goal saw Potter’s team collapse defensively.
The former Chelsea boss was hired earlier this year, but could now be facing the sack after only eight months in charge.
Staggering stat reveals truth of Graham Potter troubles
Potter was hired on 9 January, the day after Julen Lopetegui’s departure had been confirmed.
Under the Spaniard, West Ham sat 14th, winning just six of their 20 Premier League fixtures and losing almost half.
Potter’s reign got off to a good start in the league, with victory coming over Fulham at The London Stadium, but it did not take long for old habits to settle back in.
The Hammers would finish the season still in 14th, with a goal difference of -16, a tally that only the three relegated sides could offer worse than.
| West Ham | Premier League 2024/25 |
| Wins | 11 |
| Draws | 10 |
| Losses | 17 |
| Goals for | 46 |
| Goals against | 62 |
Still, Potter had sympathisers – the head coach had yet to receive backing in the transfer window, except for two loan signings in January.
But now, the Englishman can no longer use that excuse. West Ham have signed five players this summer, including a £20million move for Leicester City goalkeeper Mads Hermansen.
Yet against Sunderland, any change from last season was hard to spot, with the Hammers still vulnerable in defence and lacking ideas going forward.
A stat highlighted by Adam Crafton on 16 August reveals that West Ham have won just five of their 19 Premier League games under the management of Potter, with two of the victories coming against Ipswich Town and Leicester City, who were relegated last season.
Fixture list will not be kind to Graham Potter
On paper, Saturday’s game against Sunderland was among the easiest of West Ham’s opening Premier League fixtures.
The Hammers will take on Chelsea next in the Premier League, before travelling to Wolves in the Carabao Cup and Nottingham Forest after that.
- 13 Premier League managers have left their jobs within 40 days of the season’s start, including Graham Potter at Brighton in 2022.
Matches against Tottenham, Crystal Palace, Everton and Arsenal will then follow in what could be a critical period for Potter.
Should West Ham be without a Premier League win before they travel to Selhurst Park, the head coach should consider himself in serious danger of the sack.
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