It is difficult to know what to make of West Ham United’s defeat to Chelsea.
At an earlier stage of the season, West Ham fans would no doubt be leaving Stamford Bridge encouraged by their side’s performance.
Still, that is not the reality in which the Hammers currently exist. Indeed, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are five points adrift of Premier League safety and have only 14 games left to play.
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A graphic showing a TalkingPoints user on Nuno's big mistake for West Ham vs Chelsea.
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As such, West Ham’s dramatic 3-2 defeat to Chelsea is a significant blow, even if the Irons were brilliant in the first half.
On paper, relegation looks like an increasingly likely prospect. Still, if what Gary Neville says is a comfort to anyone, he believes he’s seen enough from Nuno’s side to believe.
Gary Neville thinks West Ham can avoid relegation
Neville was impressed with West Ham’s first half performance against Chelsea and for good reason indeed.
They were excellent and blew the Blues away, with Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville scoring goals before the break.
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Aaron Wan-Bissaka playing for West Ham against Chelsea.
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
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Clearly, the fact that West Ham capitulated against Chelsea is the source of huge frustration.
They have the worst defensive record across Europe’s major five leagues, and that is what is on course – at least in terms of purely footballing matters – to send them down.
However, Neville had a simple message for Nuno’s side after the game. The pundit believes he’s seen enough to suggest they can stay up after all.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Neville said: “West Ham keep your heads up, you keep playing like that you’ve got a great chance of staying up.”
Joao Pedro celebrates after scoring for Chelsea against West Ham.
Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
The major curse West Ham have to lift to prove Gary Neville right
The first half performance was certainly something to be proud of but it would be foolish to ignore one of the biggest issues in the team right now.
West Ham have dropped the joint-most points from winning positions in the Premier League this season (18) and that simply isn’t good enough.
Quite what that speaks to exactly is unclear. A mentality issue? Perhaps. Poor in-game management? West Ham fans will no doubt argue that’s a certainty.
There is simply no hope for the Irons if they keep doing that.
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