An insane West Ham record this season is mind-blowing in the bid to avoid Premier League relegation.
The teams in the mix for relegation are almost always the ones with the worst defensive records.
It usually goes without saying, especially with half the season gone.
So one glance at the Premier League table would suggest West Ham’s defence ranks among the worst.
The reality is anything but, though.
In actual fact West Ham have – rather astonishingly – got the FIFTH best defensive record in the entire Premier League so far this season with just 26 goals conceded.
Another fact about teams in relegation danger is that a big part of their defensive frailties come at set-pieces.
Often those dropping into the Championship or being thereabouts have woeful records at defending from corners and free-kicks.
But an insane West Ham record this season is mind-blowing in the bid to avoid Premier League relegation.
And it proves there should not be any issues staying up for the Hammers at all come what May.
During the 1-1 draw with Newcastle, West Ham conceded four corners. All were successfully defended with the imperious Nayef Aguerd marshalling the Hammers box.
And it gave rise to an amazing statistic. West Ham have now faced 101 corners in the Premier League this season and not conceded a single goal from them.
In fact West Ham have only conceded one goal from a set-piece all season long – hands down the best record in the Premier League bar none (WhoScored). The next best is Antonio Conte’s well-drilled Tottenham with three.
Fifth best defence, fifth worst attack
With those kind of defensive statistics it should ease any fears over relegation for West Ham.
Indeed West Ham’s vastly healthier goal difference is akin to an extra point even if the situation does get hairy.
What the statistics do highlight, though, is just how poor West Ham’s attacking output has been this term.
While the Hammers have the fifth best defence they also have the fifth worst attack with just 18 goals in 21 matches.
But David Moyes knows his team can literally make a case for the defence in the bid to stay up. Now he just needs to get his forward line firing on a consistent basis.
Do that and West Ham should have no worries at all about going down.