Six points against relegation rivals crucial to West Ham’s survival hopes
- by Staff Writer #3
- Filed: Friday, 23rd March 2018
West Ham United face a crucial couple of months as they aim to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
As highlighted by Sunderland’s struggles in the Championship this season, retaining top flight status is imperative for a club who have been beset by problems in recent times.David Moyes’ side looked in good shape in January, ending the month 12th in the table having safely navigated fixtures against four of their relegation rivals without defeat.
However, they have won once since then and the chaotic scenes that marred their recent 3-0 defeat against Burnley hasn’t helped the mood around the club.
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The Hammers are currently 17th in the table, just two points above Southampton with eight games to play and they can be backed at 5/2 to finish in the bottom three.
The two sides are scheduled to meet at the London Stadium at the end of March and a victory there would give West Ham a major boost for the rest of the campaign.
A visit to Chelsea on April 8 looks tough, especially when you consider they haven’t won at Stamford Bridge since the 2002/03 season.
A home game against relegation rivals Stoke City on the same weekend as the world will be watching the Grand National Live Streaming online precedes a horrific looking five game run-in.
Fixtures against Arsenal (A), Manchester City (H), Leicester (A), Everton (H) and Manchester United (H) pitches the Hammers against sides currently ninth or above in the Premier League, and it’s difficult to see them picking up many points for those in their current frame of mind.
The club’s owners have come under increasing pressure this season, while Moyes’ managerial career would surely be over if he ends up with another relegation on his CV.
The appointment of Moyes was initially met with plenty of negativity, but that upturn in form during January appeared to have silenced the doubters.
Five defeats in the last seven games has quickly cranked up the pressure again on Moyes, with many fans questioning his tactics.
His decision to take the players away to Miami for a warm-weather training camp in March has also been criticised, but that will be forgotten if it leads to an improvement in West Ham’s form over the next few weeks.
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If Moyes does steer the Hammers to safety in the Premier League he is likely to be offered an extension to his six-month contract, but he is unlikely to survive if the club goes down.
It’s been another difficult season for West Ham supporters, who had every reason to believe that at least a mid-table finish was achievable when the campaign started.
Victories against Southampton and Stoke could be the key to the Hammers’ chances of avoiding the drop, giving them the platform to try and pinch a point or two from their other six games.
Anything less than six points from those two games and the 5/2 currently on offer to be relegated would look an excellent wager.
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