Leeds United dumped West Ham firmly back into the relegation zone with a deserved 3-1 win over Chelsea at Elland Road last night.
It was a game that realistically should have seen the visitors reduced to ten men when Estevão committed a cynical foul, then channelled his inner Lucas Paquetá as he almost talked Darren England into showing a second yellow.
The Yorkshire side’s victory was a stark reminder of just how much trouble the Hammers are in, as Leeds showed exactly the sort of energy, pace and defensive solidity Nuno Espírito Santo can currently only dream of.
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In truth, Daniel Farke’s team simply wanted it more than Chelsea — and the contrast to West Ham’s lethargic showing against Liverpool on Sunday could not have been clearer.
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Sean Dyche’s Nottingham Forest also beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 at Molineux, creating real daylight between the bottom three and the rest.
West Ham can move above Leeds with a 2-0 win at Old Trafford tonight, but as things stand, the Hammers are in major trouble. The most worrying aspect isn’t even the points tally — it’s how much better Leeds, Nottingham Forest and even Fulham look at the moment.
Transfer speculation is now ramping up, and one can only hope that David Sullivan and the West Ham hierarchy are preparing to give Nuno major backing in January.
Because make no mistake: West Ham’s plight is serious.