Skip to main content
16 LIVE
Watch live
Matchday Global
It's West Ham or Spurs - how relegation fight is shaping up
← All newsPremier League

It's West Ham or Spurs - how relegation fight is shaping up

With two games remaining of the Premier League season, Tottenham and West Ham are the two horses left in the race to avoid relegation.

Matchday Global
Share this story

Nuno Espirito Santo (left) took over at West Ham in September, while Roberto de Zerbi (right) become Tottenham boss in March

Only two horses are left in the race that no-one wants to lose - the scrap for Premier League survival.

With two games to go, and Burnley and Wolves already relegated, either Tottenham or West Ham will be joining them in the Championship next season.

Spurs, in 17th, are two points clear of 18th-placed West Ham after being held to a 1-1 draw by Leeds United on Monday - and also have the superior goal difference.

While a point is not to be sniffed at, the chance to go four points free of the Hammers was missed by Roberto de Zerbi's side, and Spurs remain without a home win in the top flight since 6 December.

"If we want to win, we have to reduce the mistakes," said De Zerbi.

West Ham, who saw Callum Wilson's stoppage-time equaliser ruled out by the video assistant referee (VAR) in Sunday's 1-0 defeat by leaders Arsenal, are rooted in trouble.

"It's going to be tough [to stay up] - we know it is not in our hands," said boss Nuno Espirito Santo.

"We will fight for it and we will keep on fighting."

Spurs drag out safety battle to keep nerves jangling

West Ham set to contact referees' body over disallowed goal

With Leeds, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest all securing their place in the top flight following last weekend's results, Tottenham and West Ham know time is running out to avoid the drop.

According to the Opta supercomputer, they have a 19.5% chance of relegation, compared to 80.5% for Nuno's Hammers.

West Ham take on Newcastle United at St James' Park this Saturday, two days before Spurs play next, at Chelsea.

If West Ham can win at Newcastle - they beat the Magpies 3-1 at home in the league in November - then they will jump to 17th and push Spurs into the relegation zone by one point.

Anything other than a Hammers win, though, would hand the advantage back to Tottenham - who could then ensure their safety by winning at Chelsea.

The chances of Spurs picking up a win at Stamford Bridge, however, might be slim, as they have managed it just once since 1990, with a 3-1 victory in April 2018.

If the battle does go down to the wire on 24 May, both teams have home games, with Tottenham welcoming Everton and West Ham facing Leeds.

The draw with Leeds felt like an opportunity missed. I felt like we deserve to win, but we just weren't clinical in front of goal.

However, we are still in the driving seat, and we need a minimum of four points to stay in the Premier League.

I feel confident [Tottenham can stay up] because in the past four games, we've picked up eight points - two wins and two draws - and there is a real belief and confidence under Roberto de Zerbi.

But one of the remaining games is Chelsea at Stamford Bridge - and we've only won there once in 36 years, so that's going to be tough.

I'm glad De Zerbi came in when he did; it was certainly a waste of time with [former interim head coach] Igor Tudor, his 44-day stint.

But De Zerbi seems to be getting a tune out of these players, so I live in hope.

We're going to now watch West Ham travel to Newcastle, and hopefully they don't pick any points up there, then Spurs need to just go and get a result at Chelsea.

Continue with Matchday Global

Source: BBC Sport Football

Found this useful? Share it.

More stories