West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen believes his side are "in trouble now" after a 2-1 defeat against Leeds United on Friday.

Leeds scored twice within the opening 15 minutes through Brenden Aaronson and Joe Rodon before Mateus Fernandes, assisted by Bowen, pulled a goal back for the Hammers late on.

West Ham's haul of just four points from their first nine games of the Premier League season is their joint-worst return ever at this stage of a league campaign, also picking up just four in the second tier in 1932-33 and in 1973-74 in the top-flight (both using three points for a win).

Nuno Espirito Santo (D1 L3) also became the first Hammers manager to fail to win any of his first four Premier League games in charge since Manuel Pellegrini in September 2018.

After another damning display in the league, Bowen was adamant it was up to the players to turn things around.

"Probably a lot of reasons why [we started slowly]. But a dressing room when you're second bottom of the league is low," Bowen told Sky Sports.

"The only way this will change is if we step up and show some fight. We need more of that. It's easy to hide and be scared almost.

"It's easier said and harder to do sometimes. Roll your sleeves up and dig in. No one will give this to us. We're in a real situation, and we have to face the reality of that. You have to face up to the reality of where we are, and we're in trouble now.

"We have to go out there and fight more than anything. The Premier League is the hardest league. We're not playing well and not getting results. We need to change it. We're the only ones that can change it.

"We've talked as a group, but it's down to the players as well. We speak to each other, but there's only so much. It's got to come from within. We can show it a lot more.

"Nine games we've had, one win, and we're second bottom. We haven't been great at home, but now is the time to roll your sleeves up."

West Ham have conceded nine goals from corners in the Premier League already this season, triple the number of any other side (Aston Villa, Fulham and Leeds all on three), while it is the most of any side in the history of the competition after the opening nine games.

Nuno insisted both he and the players are determined to turn things around for the fans.

"It's a simple explanation. We didn't deal with the problems. We didn't deal with many things," the Hammers boss told Sky Sports.

"We have to work hard and be much better. I feel the players want to, but they switch off in many moments.

"[Now] we work. Now is the time for sadness. Let's keep on going. We need the fans since we arrive; it's up to us. We need to give them something to deserve that support."