There’s only one job for West Ham United to do in the coming Premier League weekend – and that’s to ensure it is not a defining one in a negative sense.
While Nuno Espirito Santo believes this season’s relegation battle will go down to the wire, there’s a strong narrative suggesting that it will take another turn on Saturday.
The margins are tight and despite a recent revival, things are on a knife edge.
West Ham face a much harder game than Tottenham
Indeed, while West Ham United play Everton, relegation rivals Tottenham (assuming Nottingham Forest and Leeds have now pulled clear) travel to Wolves.
What changes would you make to this team? Feel free to tell me how wrong I’ve got it 😂
Spurs, despite their many issues this season, have to be deemed as favourites for that game following an improved performance against Brighton. The same cannot be said for West Ham versus Everton, who are one of the better away teams in the Premier League.
Since January, the Hammers have flipped the script in the relegation battle. Now, they might need to do so again.
Nuno has to use the home crowd factor at West Ham
It would be too much to say that West Ham went to Crystal Palace on Monday looking for a point. They did, however, end up settling for one at Selhurst Park – with some onlookers suggesting it was a missed opportunity.
How should David Moyes be remembered at West Ham? 💭
European trophy winner? Boring football? Or something else? 🤔
Though Everton could provide an even sterner test, Nuno must go on the front foot here. He simply has to assume that Spurs will win.
Playing at home has often been a challenge for the Irons, given the sheer unpopularity of the London Stadium.
Still, Nuno has to channel the home crowd’s support into something positive here. A win on Saturday would be a statement of intent, while a defeat would be a major setback with only four games to go after it.
This coming weekend could be a defining one. Nuno simply has to ensure that his team are above the line after it, and being proactive rather than reactive is the best way to ensure it at this point.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
