[Getty Images]John Acres - Final Score reporter at Vitality StadiumMon, November 24, 2025 at 8:20 AM UTC·1 min readA well timed substitution can often win you the game.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the 1999 Champions League final for Manchester United or Mario Gotze in the 2014 World Cup final for Germany, but on Saturday, Nuno Espirito Santo's switch six minutes into the second half was the tactical gamble that could have instead cost West Ham the win.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementTwo-goal striker Callum Wilson was replaced with midfielder Tomas Soucek and, while Nuno maintained the substitution was planned due to Wilson's fitness, Soucek's introduction announced West Ham's intention to sit deep and defend their two-goal lead.
It immediately handed the initiative to Bournemouth, who would have gone on to win the game if it was not for the brilliance of keeper Alphonse Areola, who made a staggering 10 saves in the game.
Striker Niclas Fullkrug was introduced later in the game, but a like-for-like change when Wilson came off would have been a more positive message for the players on the pitch.
Post-match, Nuno accepted some blame: "The responsibility is mine, but the decision on Callum was based purely on protecting him. We lost control and they punished us."
