The stars could be aligning for Nuno Espirito Santo to exact the ultimate revenge on Nottingham Forest with West Ham after a new Sean Dyche leak.
It was billed as a crossroads weekend in the Premier League relegation battle – and so it proved.
Nottingham Forest lost 3-1 to Leeds United on Friday night, which dangled the carrot to West Ham to beat Burnley and close the gap to safety to just three points.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side did the job, coming away from Turf Moor 2-0 victors to reignite hopes of survival and pile the pressure on his old club Nottingham Forest.
It was not too long ago the Hammers looked all but dead and buried in the relegation battle as they threw away a 1-0 lead to lose 2-1 to Forest at the London Stadium.
Vastly improved performances and results of late have changed all that, though.
West Ham and Forest in straight shootout to avoid relegation?
After the win over Burnley, the Clarets look certainties to join Wolves in the Championship.
Now, as things stand, it looks like a straight shootout between West Ham and Nottingham Forest to avoid joining them.
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It is not the nicest position to be in for Nuno, who loved Forest and his life in Nottingham where he really became part of the community.
But the way things ended between the Hammers boss and Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis means it is only human nature that Nuno would want to get his own back.
And Nuno can exact the ultimate revenge on Nottingham Forest with West Ham after a new Sean Dyche leak.
They were scenes that made headlines across Europe when Marinakis appeared to confront Nuno on the pitch following a 2-2 draw against Leicester City at the City Ground.
Forest later said the incident was because of the Greek owner’s frustration that striker Taiwo Awoniyi had continued to play following an 88th-minute injury, which subsequently required what was described as “urgent” surgery.
Nottingham Forest insisted there was “no confrontation” and it was “fake news” to suggest otherwise. Marinakis even ordered that pundit Gary Neville be banned from the City Ground for their final game of last season against Chelsea.
Despite Forest’s success on the pitch during Nuno’s reign, which saw them narrowly miss out on Champions League football, his relations with Marinakis disintegrated due to disagreements over transfer business.
Nuno had previously criticised the club’s activity in the summer transfer window, saying they had wasted a good chance.
Nuno can exact ultimate revenge on Forest after new Dyche leak
When Edu was brought in from Arsenal as Forest’s global head of football, the writing was on the wall.
Ironically West Ham handed Marinakis the loaded gun to fire Nuno when they beat the Tricky Trees 3-0.
How many points do we NEED from these next five games?
And how many do you think we WILL get?
Nuno was sacked, but in a further twist, he would take over at West Ham less than a month later when Graham Potter was dismissed.
The chances of West Ham overhauling Forest looked pretty remote after Dyche’s side beat them at the London Stadium.
Now they are very much going head-to-head to avoid filling that dreaded 18th spot come what May.
Nuno is now targeting six games West Ham must win to survive and it seems the pressure is lifting off the Hammers and is weighing heavy on Dyche’s shoulders at the most pivotal point of the season.
And that could be just as crucial in deciding who stays up.
As West Ham start to breathe more easily and pick up momentum, tensions are rising at Forest ahead of the run-in.
According to BBC Sport’s senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel, Forest sources inform him that Dyche is under increasing pressure after the defeat to Leeds.
West Ham have a difficult game at home to a rejuvenated Man United on Tuesday night. A surprise win over the Red Devils would draw the Hammers level on 26 points with Forest.
Dyche’s side then face bottom club Wolves on Wednesday night where the pressure may help instigate a shock result with Mokbel’s sources indicating that support for the Forest head coach ‘isn’t currently as solid as it has been’.
Pressure lifts on Hammers as Dyche sack talk ignites
The journalist has suggested that pressure on Dyche will intensify if Forest do not beat Wolves.
“Having already had three managers this season, it seems inconceivable that owner Evangelos Marinakis will seek a fourth head coach before the campaign is out,” Mokbel said.
“But history tells us that the club’s Greek owner has not been slow in making such decisions if he believes it is in Forest’s best interests.”
The dark clouds have been clearing from above the London Stadium and appear to be settling in Nottingham.
The pressure on Dyche could really impact Forest and inject anxiety into their performances.
And that could pave the way for Nuno to exact the ultimate revenge on Marinakis by leading West Ham to safety at Forest’s expense.
It may hurt the Hammers boss to see his former club drop at his new side’s expense.
But Marinakis made it personal and there is no greater incentive than getting one’s own back when you feel wronged.
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