West Ham are in solid formplaceholder image
West Ham are in solid form | Getty Images
A look at West Ham’s next five fixtures and how they compare to their relegation rivals.
West Ham are chasing survival as they prepare to enter their last eight games. The Iron have given themselves a fighting chance, just goal difference from safety after a week without change at the bottom.
All four teams involved in the relegation battle drew last weekend, so it was a case of as we were, but that sequence of results likely won’t be repeating itself this weekend.
All four sides know they need a good run of form somewhere between now and the end of the season, and it will be intriguing to see who pulls it off and who is left playing Championship football next season.
But who has the easiest and hardest fixtures? Here are the run-ins.
West Ham’s run-in
Aston Villa (A), Wolves (H), Crystal Palace (A), Everton (H), Brentford (A), Arsenal (H), Newcastle United (A), Leeds United (H).
Leeds United’s run-in
Brentford (H), Man Utd (A), Wolves (H), AFC Bournemouth (A), Burnley (H), Tottenham (A), Brighton (H), West Ham (A).
Tottenham’s run-in
Nottingham Forest (H), Sunderland (A), Brighton (H), Wolves (A), Aston Villa (A), Leeds United (H), Chelsea (A), Everton (H).
Nottingham Forest’s run-in
Tottenham (A), Aston Villa (H), Burnley (H), Sunderland (A), Chelsea (A), Newcastle United (H), Man Utd (A), AFC Bournemouth (H).
Comparing the run-ins
Starting with West Ham’s game, if they can get through that Villa game and nick a point, they then have a big opportunity against bottom club Wolves, even if the Midlands club have picked up a little of late.
Palace is also a winnable game, while Everton will be trickier, albeit it is at home. The run of Brentford, Arsenal and Newcastle United games will be tricky, but the Iron are going to have to hang in there. The final game against Leeds United could be very winnable, given there is potential for the Whites to be safe by then,
Leeds have a head start, and you look at their games and feel as though they should have enough. If they can beat Wolves and Burnley and pick up another win and draw or two from the remaining five games, they will have enough.
Tottenham is a case of who knows. They have the quality to pull away, but injuries and rotten form complicate things. What you would say about Spurs, is that they four games that they could feasibly win, and there is an opportunity to pull away from the bottom three. But they will need a run of good form, and that is not certain. Spurs may have the advantage, on paper.
Forest may have the worst run-in, with Burnley the only comfortable game on their list of remaining fixtures. Villa, Chelsea, Newcastle, Man Utd and Bournemouth are rotten fixtures to have, while Sunderland have been very good at home this season.
Continue Reading