Our wait for a first away win of the Premier League campaign continued, as we fell to a 2-1 defeat at the London Stadium against West Ham.
Despite Jacob Murphy opening the scoring in the 4th minute, we were second best during the first half, as a long range strike from Lucas Paqueta and unfortunate deflection off Sven Botman gave the Hammers all three points.
And the second half was amongst our most toothless performances since the takeover, as the substitutions of Nick Woltemade and Anthony Gordon meant we barely troubled Alphonse Areola. Tomas Soucek grabbed a third in stoppage time to make it 3-1.
Eddie Howe will have some big decisions to make ahead of Wednesday night’s Champions League clash against Athletic Bilbao. Here’s what he had to say after today’s game:
Howe: “I can’t defend that”
Howe has called for everyone involved in today’s 3-1 defeat to West Ham to take a look at themselves, him included, and work out what went wrong after our Premier League away form went from bad to worse in the Capital.
The boss admitted he had no defence for that display, insisting it was a day where everyone was off; not just ‘one or two’ players:
“I can’t really defend that performance. It was really disappointing especially after that start.”
“We let West Ham back in with some uncharacteristic errors. It wasn’t any one or two players, it was collectively we were off today and you could see that it was quite evident in our first half performance.”
“I think that’s the harsh realities of football. You can win three games previously and think you’ve turned a corner in terms of consistency, then it slaps you in the face. So that’s what’s happened to us today.”
“We gave ourselves problems and it caught up with us. We have missed another big opportunity in the Premier League today.”
“All of us, collectively, need to analyse ourselves and see where we can improve
Apology to the travelling away fans
Frustration looks to be growing in scores of the travelling fanbase. Three consecutive 0-0s followed by back-to-back defeats against Brighton and now West Ham means we’re still winless on the road, with just two goals to our name in that time.
Howe knows that we need to up our away form as soon as possible, and has called upon the lads to play every game like we are at home for the sake of the committed supporters following the club up and down the country.
“Whatever environment we play in, whether it’s home or away, if we have the support with us or against us, we have to find a way to perform better than we did today.”
“There’s no excuses. Hands up from us, that wasn’t good enough and we’ll look to do better next time.”
On what went wrong today
On paper, this should have been a routine win against the team with the second worst defensive record in the league.
But today’s loss felt eerily similar to the game at St James’ Park last season, where Julen Lopetegui’s side turned up and took all three points and we were uncharacteristically poor.
“We were disappointing by our high standards we’ve stuck to lately, and the performance wasn’t a good one.”
“Going a goal up was obviously a great start, and Murph scores a great goal, and then you expect to go on from that and use the positivity of the goal, but we didn’t.”
“I felt we regressed in our performance. We sort of got worse as that first half went on. We did half time, we tried to reshuffle things, but to no avail today.”
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Highest Paying Jobs in the UK 2026 (No Degree Required) – Full Hiring Guide
The UK job market in 2026 is creating strong opportunities for workers without university degrees. Due to labor shortages, rising wages, and demand across key industries, many roles now offer competitive salaries, stable contracts, and visa sponsorship options for qualified workers.
This guide focuses on real, in-demand UK jobs that pay well, require little or no formal education, and are suitable for both UK residents and international applicants.
1. HGV (Truck) Driver Jobs in the UK
Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) drivers remain among the highest-paid non-degree workers in the UK. Supermarkets, logistics firms, construction companies, and fuel suppliers continue to face driver shortages, pushing wages higher each year.
Salary Range
- £38,000 – £65,000 per year
- Overtime and night shifts can exceed £70,000
Requirements
- UK HGV Class 1 or Class 2 licence
- Driver CPC qualification
- No university degree required
Why This Job Pays Well
Long hours, responsibility, and supply chain importance make HGV driving one of the best-paid manual professions in the UK. Employers often cover training costs.
2. Construction Site Supervisor (Experience-Based)
Construction supervisors oversee daily site operations, safety compliance, and workforce coordination. Many professionals rise into this role through experience rather than formal education.
Salary Range
- £40,000 – £60,000 per year
Requirements
- Construction site experience
- CSCS or SSSTS certification
- No degree required
Construction jobs attract high advertising bids due to insurance, equipment, training, and recruitment demand.
3. Security Control Room Operator
Unlike basic security guard roles, control room operators monitor CCTV systems, coordinate emergency responses, and manage access control for large facilities, airports, and business centers.
Salary Range
- £35,000 – £50,000 per year
Requirements
- SIA licence
- Basic IT and communication skills
- No academic degree required
4. Warehouse Operations Manager (Promotion-Based)
Many warehouse managers start as pickers or supervisors and move up through performance. E-commerce growth has pushed logistics salaries significantly higher.
Salary Range
- £42,000 – £58,000 per year
Industries Hiring
- Amazon fulfilment centres
- Supermarket distribution hubs
- Import and export warehouses
5. Care Home Manager (NVQ Route)
Care home managers oversee elderly and assisted living facilities. This role follows vocational certification routes rather than university education.
Salary Range
- £45,000 – £65,000 per year
Why It Pays Well
An aging population and staff shortages have pushed salaries higher, especially in private care homes.
6. Roofing & Specialist Trades
Roofers, scaffolders, and specialist trade workers earn premium wages due to physical demand and skill shortages.
Salary Range
- £180 – £300 per day
- Annual income up to £70,000
7. Taxi & Private Hire Drivers (High-Demand Cities)
London, Manchester, Birmingham, and Leeds offer strong earning potential for licensed private hire drivers.
Salary Range
- £35,000 – £55,000 per year
Visa Sponsorship for UK Jobs
Some UK employers offer sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route. While not all jobs qualify, roles in logistics, healthcare support, construction, and technical operations may be eligible depending on employer approval.
How to Apply for High-Paying UK Jobs
- Apply directly on company career websites
- Register with UK recruitment agencies
- Obtain necessary licences before applying
- Prepare a UK-style CV
In 2026, high-paying jobs in the UK are no longer limited to university graduates. With the right skills, certifications, and experience, workers can secure stable, well-paid roles across logistics, construction, healthcare support, and security sectors.
For job seekers aiming to work in the UK or improve their income, focusing on short-term training and high-demand industries remains the smartest path.
