At this stage of the season, with so much at stake for West Ham, it’s practically impossible to watch other games without drawing conclusions about how results impact the Hammers’ survival chances.
Despite my best efforts, I spent the entire weekend trying to avoid our relegation rivals—but I’ve come to the conclusion I simply don’t have that level of control. Every twist, every goal from Leeds United, Tottenham Hotspur or Nottingham Forest seems to shift the mood and reshape expectations.
That said, one thing remains constant. If Nuno Espírito Santo and his team take care of business themselves, nothing else really matters.
Nottingham Forest win looks big – but context tells a different story
That brings us to Nottingham Forest’s 4-1 win against Burnley—a result which has many, including commentators, suggesting it could be enough to keep Vítor Pereira’s side up.
Personally, I’m not so sure.
Yes, Forest beat a very poor Burnley side, but the run-in ahead looks anything but straightforward. A trip to Sunderland is unlikely to be easy, and that’s followed by a Europa League semi-final first leg against Aston Villa.
From there, it’s Chelsea away, then straight back into the second leg in the Midlands just three days later. After that, they host Newcastle before facing Manchester United and Bournemouth.
| Club | Fixture 1 | Fixture 2 | Fixture 3 | Fixture 4 | Fixture 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Ham United | West Ham vs Everton | Brentford vs West Ham | West Ham vs Arsenal | Newcastle vs West Ham | West Ham vs Leeds |
| Leeds United | Bournemouth vs Leeds | Leeds vs Burnley | Tottenham vs Leeds | Leeds vs Brighton | West Ham vs Leeds |
| Tottenham Hotspur | Wolves vs Tottenham | Aston Villa vs Tottenham | Tottenham vs Leeds | Chelsea vs Tottenham | Tottenham vs Everton |
| Nottingham Forest | Sunderland vs Forest | Chelsea vs Forest | Forest vs Newcastle | Man United vs Forest | Forest vs Bournemouth |
fixtures to follow West Ham v Palace
Brutal fixture list and injury concerns could change everything
You can argue there’s a win in there somewhere—and maybe there is—but it’s far from guaranteed.
West Ham know all too well what European football does to a squad. The travel, the intensity, the quick turnarounds—it takes its toll, no matter how exciting the occasion.
Add in a potential hamstring injury to arguably their most important defender, Murillo, and suddenly the narrative shifts slightly.
Talk of Nottingham Forest being safe might just be a bit premature—and that should give West Ham at least a glimmer of belief heading into the final stretch.
Good point Gonzo – it could be argued that during the great escape of 2007 Sheffield United were relegated because they thought they were safe after beating us 3-0
COYI
Evening mate. I always maintained that the Blades relegation was as much to do with them selling Unsworth to Wigan as anything else.
Of course, we got the blame because of Tevez etc but their own error ultimately sent them down.