There has been another huge double relegation battle boost for West Ham after late night developments going into the weekend.
As West Ham fans know only too well, we are one of nine clubs currently separated by just five points in what is being billed the tightest Premier League relegation battle for years.
The Hammers have no say in whether they stay outside the bottom three this weekend after the postponement of the game against Man City.
Therefore David Moyes and his side were hoping for a series of favours in nine fixtures involving the other clubs fighting for survival.
But West Ham were given a huge boost in midweek when relegation rivals Crystal Palace and Southampton both lost to keep the Hammers out of the relegation zone and within one win of 12th place.
Another huge double relegation battle boost for West Ham after late night developments
Eyes then turned to the Friday night football with another direct rival, Nottingham Forest, in action against Newcastle.
Just hours before the game, Palace moved to sack manager Patrick Vieira. And Eagles chairman Steve Parish revealed West Ham played a big part in the thinking behind his decision.
Well there has been another huge double relegation battle boost for West Ham after late night developments.
Forest were deservedly beaten 2-1 at home by Newcastle with a double from Isak. The Magpies beat Forest with a late penalty meaning West Ham remain just two points – and one win – off leapfrogging them thanks to a vastly superior goal difference.
Meanwhile down at Selhurst Park, breaking news this evening claims Palace are considering re-appointing 75-year-old Roy Hodgson as Vieira’s replacement.
The news has many Palace fans up in arms and will suddenly have 59-year-old Moyes looking like a spring chicken by comparison.
When Palace sacked Vieira it meant West Ham and Leicester became the only teams in the bottom 11 of the Premier League to not have changed their manager this season.
Are the stars aligning for the Hammers?
The fear for the likes of West Ham was that Palace might have something cunning up their sleeve to get that new manager bounce.
But Sky Sports claim Hodgson is in talks over a return to Selhurst Park.
With all due respect to the man, word that Hodgson could be set for a shock comeback will give the Hammers and their fellow relegation rivals a major boost. After all he was last seen taking Watford down.
It means the first three of nine fixtures involving West Ham’s survival rivals have gone in our favour this week. Maybe, just maybe, the stars are aligning for the Irons?
Depending on results elsewhere this weekend, a defeat by two goals for Leicester at Brentford would see the Hammers move UP a place in the table on goal difference.
Here are the others to look out for this weekend.
Results West Ham need to go their way:
Saturday
- Bournemouth to lose away at Villa
- Leicester to lose or draw away at Brentford
- Southampton to lose or draw at home to Spurs
- Wolves and Leeds to draw or Wolves to win
- Everton to lose away to Chelsea
Sunday
- Palace to lose away to Arsenal