Nottingham Forest and West Ham United are still in the relegation zone - but the mood at both clubs has changed
Brian Dick Reach Football Correspondent
11:47, 12 Nov 2025Updated 11:47, 12 Nov 2025
West Ham United manager Nuno Espirito Santo and Jarrod Bowen
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West Ham United manager Nuno Espirito Santo and Jarrod Bowen(Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)
Tim Sherwood has backed both Sean Dyche and Nuno Espirito Santo to keep their respective clubs in the Premier League.
Nuno, who started the campaign as Nottingham Forest manager, has now led West Ham United to successive victories and lifted them from second bottom to the edge of the relegation zone on goal difference alone.
Meanwhile at the City Ground, Dyche has taken four points from his last two matches and the Reds are now within one win of 14th placed Newcastle United.
His first Premier League success came with a 3-1 win over Leeds United on Sunday and the former Aston Villa boss sees Forest managers past and present leaving the dogfight behind.
"Two very good jobs for a new manager to go into," Sherwood told Sky Sports News. "The last thing you want to do is take a job when someone's flying high.
"But Dychey was the safe pair of hands and certainly Nuno, they've both operated at the bottom end of the division before and they've got experience of keeping teams in the league and doing better than that.
"So a very safe pair of hands, both clubs - and I think if they can keep their home form up, certainly Nottingham Forest with the atmosphere you get there - and I have to say that at West Ham, the last two home wins they've had, their atmosphere's been OK there, no complaints about the atmosphere.
"Yes there's been the petitions and they're entitled to do whatever they want, but they get behind the team, and they've got something to support at the moment.
"They're playing on the front foot, they're scoring some goals, they've actually got a centre forward there as well, Callum Wilson, which helps score goals.
"So I think the penny's dropped for Nuno, the fact that what the fans actually want there is a little attacking football and just to leave everything on the pitch. I think West Ham and Nottingham Forest will be fine."
However, Sherwood, a Premier League winner with Blackburn Rovers three decades ago, is not so optimistic about Wolves and two promoted teams.
"It is a worry for Burnley and for Leeds, we’ve played 11 games now a lot of the analysts at every other team have had a good look at them against Premier League opposition.
"That tells a lot and that information is getting fed back to the managers who are prepared against them. So perhaps it might be a case of being found out.
"It's not the case with Sunderland though is it? For me they will stay in the league. I think Leeds and Burnley, it's going to be a struggle.
"I'm not saying they're 100% sure, but I think they might change places with West Ham and Nottingham Forest.
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"[At the start of the season] I didn't stick my neck out too far. I said the teams that came up will go down. They did for the previous two seasons.
"If you wanted me to put my neck on the line now I would say that Wolves will go down with Burnley and Leeds."
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