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Nothing will be decided at the bottom of the Premier League table this weekend; not for West Ham United nor Tottenham Hotspur.
But with only three matchdays remaining following the Hammers’ trip to Brentford, a victory at the home of London neighbour – coupled with a Spurs loss on Sunday – will put salvation within Nuno Espirito Santo’s grasp.
If Monday’s Old Trafford clash proved anything, it is that Brentford are hardly ‘on the beach’. Keith Andrews has put spades and sandcastles at the back of Bees minds. Despite failing to win any of their last six top-flight matches, European qualification is still very much on the cards.
Tell us your Brentford demands and score predictions!
Brentford were also the better side for long spells against Michael Carrick’s Champions League-bound Red Devils.
Yet, if you offered West Ham United the choice of a trip to Brentford or a visit to Villa Park, one suspects very few would set about researching the Birmingham branches of Premier Inn.
West Ham United can their Premier League fate in their own hands
Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images
Speaking to Hammers News shortly after Callum Wilson scored a stoppage-time winner against Everton, a spokesman for the board indicated that Aston Villa vs Tottenham this weekend is viewed as a key moment in the relegation battle.
If West Ham beat Brentford and Spurs lose away at a team with no shortage of motivation – a win will almost guarantee Champions League football in 2026/27 – then the job will be scarily close to completion.
A West Ham win will at the Gtech Community Stadium would take Nuno’s team on to 39 points.
If Villa beat Tottenham – as they really should, considering the massive gulf in quality between both sides – the Hammers will go into the final three matchdays five points ahead of 17th.
Villa have won each of their last four meetings with the reigning Europa League champions. A good omen, certainly.
Tottenham Hotspur face tricky trips to Aston Villa and Chelsea
If Tottenham lose, the maximum amount of points they could get is 43. A win for West Ham at Brentford, coupled with a Spurs defeat, would mean Nuno needs only five points from a possible nine in order to post a tally Tottenham could not overtake.
How will the Premier League table look when it’s all said and done? 🤔
West Ham are in a precarious position with 4 games to go! 😬
Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images
Spurs, lest we forget, still have to face bitter rivals Chelsea. How they would love to seal Spurs’ fate.
If both Villa and Chelsea defeat Roberto de Zerbi’s side, West Ham would need only two points from the final nine available.
Should all go to plan, the Hammers’ survival could be all-but sealed away to Newcastle on May 17th; on the penultimate weekend.
Permutations, hey.
“It was a must-win [against Everton] and to do it in the last minute was brilliant but nerve-wracking, especially with Spurs scoring late at Wolves,” the top senior spokesman for West Ham’s owners exclusively told Hammers News.
“But we hope Aston Villa are not distracted by Europe [a semi-final Europa League tie with Nottingham Forest sandwiches that Tottenham clash].
“One club might need a record number of points to stay up.”
West Ham, of course, made history in the worst possible manner when they suffered relegation with 42 points in 2002/03. The Hammers had Joe Cole, David James and Paolo di Canio in their ranks at the time, while posting a tally which remains the highest of any relegated team in Premier League history.
Wouldn’t it be so very ‘Spursy’ if a similar tally consigned Tottenham to the drop – while saving West Ham’s skin – a quarter-of-a-century later.
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