A deeper dive into the job being done by Manuel Pellegrini at West Ham United shows they are closing the gap on rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
In March 2018 West Ham were a club in disarray.
A 3-0 home defeat to Burnley lit the blue touch paper on angry protests from fans demanding co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold – and their vice-chairman Karren Brady – change their ways or sell up.
Whatever the rights and wrongs of the conduct of those involved that day, it achieved what it set out to – positive change.
Hammers were a club in crisis
Sullivan and Gold withdrew from the limelight, pledged to completely revamp the club’s recruitment, hire a director of football and most importantly a title-winning manager in the shape of Chilean tactician Pellegrini.
In fact Pellegrini is the only title-winning boss ever to take charge of West Ham.
A terrible start – four straight defeats – gave the doubters plenty of ammunition.
But the job Pellegrini has done at West Ham since is nothing short of remarkable.
Pellegrini has given the club an identity again and an attacking style of play which befits West Ham’s traditions.
Manuel Pellegrini rediscovers West Ham’s identity
The poisonous atmosphere that had engulfed the club has been replaced by a happy, positive vibe at the London Stadium.
And that is where the biggest achievement lay. Slowly but surely making the new ground feel like home.
It is backed up by statistics too with the Hammers boasting the best home record outside the top six since Pellegrini’s arrival in East London.
Perhaps the most astonishing stat to emerge in the wake of Sunday’s 2-0 victory over Manchester United, though, reveals how West Ham have been quietly closing the gap on the top six and faltering Spurs.
Hammers quietly closing the gap on Spurs
West Ham have now won 48 points from their last 30 Premier League games under Pellegrini.
That is the best record outside the top six over the same period.
Most strikingly, though, that is just one single point behind Tottenham.
West Ham look to be a team and club on the up while Spurs look to be on a downward trajectory.
They say there are lies, damned lies and statistics. But this is one cold, hard stat that cannot be dressed up.
It is there in black and white, the most important barometer of progress. Points on the board.
Long may it continue.
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