West Ham United moved to the top of the Championship after beating Bolton Wanderers 3-2, with captain Jarrod Bowen scoring twice in a five-goal thriller, marking their third consecutive league win — a feat not achieved since December 2023. The result caps a period of significant behind-the-scenes change at the club following relegation from the Premier League last May, with supporters showing renewed optimism even as some tensions from the past, particularly around former chairman David Sullivan, remain evident among fans.

Despite stepping down in June amid allegations from a BBC Panorama and Times investigation, Sullivan has continued attending matches and is set to retain a 40% stake in the club under a deal announced on 3 September, while Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky becomes chairman and is expected to hold the largest shareholding at 46%. Other changes include Karim Virani impressing as chief executive and a more transparent recruitment approach under director of football Nils Koppen, with the club selling 12 players and signing nine, including a club-record £22m deal for Arne Engels and a £10m move for Norwegian talent Edvin Austbo, while uncertainty persists over the intentions of former Newcastle director Amanda Staveley.