Leeds United welcome Nottingham Forest to Elland Road a day before West Ham's trip to Burnley.
West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo insists his side must do their own job at Burnley rather than focusing on Leeds United vs Nottingham Forest a day earlier.
The Premier League fixture Gods have thrown up a massive weekend of relegation six-pointers, with 16th-placed Leeds hosting 17th-placed Forest before West Ham in 18th go to Burnley, one place further down. The Elland Road clash kicks off first, under the lights on Friday night, with Turf Moor the venue for a Saturday 3pm fixture.
Leeds and Forest are level on points and goal difference, with Daniel Farke’s side ahead on goals scored. Both sides know victory would pull them nine points clear of the drop zone for at least a few hours, heaping the pressure on West Ham. But with a game of their own the following day, Espirito Santo’s attention will not be diverted away from Burnley.
West Ham have a huge game to focus on this weekend.placeholder image
West Ham have a huge game to focus on this weekend. | Getty Images
Asked what result he’s hoping for between Leeds and Forest on Friday, the Hammers boss said: “That we cannot control. We have to focus on ourselves, what’s happening in other stadiums you cannot control. We have to do our job.”
West Ham’s job involves getting something from a Burnley side who haven’t won a Premier League game since back-to-back victories over Leeds and Wolves. Scott Parker’s men look destined for relegation, with 11 points to make up on Forest, but have gone three unbeaten at home across all competitions.
The Hammers could have been even closer to Forest and Leeds, had they not thrown away a half-time 2-0 lead at Chelsea last time out. Espirito Santo’s side were level at 2-2 going into the 90th minute but added-time brought a Blues winner and a red card for important centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo, who is now banned for three games.
West Ham boss on weekend importance ahead of six-pointer games
Espirito Santo’s side would have had just two senior centre-backs available in Dino Mavropanos and the out-of-favour Max Kilman, had it not been for their deadline-day loan signing of Chelsea’s Axel Disasi. The Frenchman has not played since April, however, and it remains to be seen if he will be fit to start at Burnley.
Saturday is West Ham’s last game against bottom-eight opposition until mid-April and regardless of the result at Elland Road, it is a game they simply need to win. And Espirito Santo did not shy away from the importance of their Turf Moor trip.
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“There's a lot of football to be played, but we know it's a very important game,” he added. “We have to realise this game means a lot for us, especially as a reaction to what happened against Chelsea. We have to react so I expect that from the players.
“They realise the situation we're in, and the players who have come in did before they signed. You have to be brave to do that, so I'm positive they're aware about the fight we're in.
“I’m totally confident we’re going to be okay. We are positive, we are working and we are committed. We are aware of the situation and the responsibility that is on us.”
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