West Ham Survive The Brewer’s Droop But Face Stiff Bees Test To Remain Up For The Cup

Despite a dire performance in the substandard FA Cup tie at Burton, the Hammers are through to the 5th Round to face Brentford. Before that it is back to league football and the desperate battle for survival.

In the world of modern football, the entry of Premier League and Championship clubs into the FA Cup has developed into a series of phoney rounds in this glorious old competition. For the fans, it promises dreams, excitement, and anticipation. An outside chance of snatching silverware just five matches away on the road to Wembley. For the media, there are potential banana skins and giant killing heroics that make for thrilling content as an antidote to the tactical morass of league football.

But in the dugouts and technical areas things are far more cynical. Where the romance of the cup is increasingly viewed as an unwelcome inconvenience – a contractual obligation distracting from the real business of titles, European qualification, promotions and relegations. The manager’s conundrum: how much can I get away with while still making it look like we’re taking it seriously?

And so, this was how it was as the Hammers headed up the M1 to Burton for their 4th round tie against lowly League 1 opposition. Ten changes from the side who had faced Manchester United four days earlier including first starts for Adama Traore, Keiber Lamadrid and Mohammadou Kante. To test our patience even further, Nuno also reverted to his favoured cup formation of three centre-backs to cope with the anticipated threat from the mighty Brewers front line.

I’ve never been a fan of three at the back given it is generally adopted as a negative formation. To make it work requires high energy wing backs continually pushing up to provide attacking width; and wide forwards who are deployed narrower to create space on the wings and provide threat through the middle. None of that happened. And with two central midfielders seemingly instructed to sit deep it was a dire and disjointed effort. Perhaps no surprise from a team of relative strangers playing in a formation that didn’t suit them.

The entertainment was as far from a pulsating cup tie as could be imagined. Little of note happened for the entire 90 minutes of regulation time and it was only the introduction of Crysencio Summerville that lifted the game from its fitful slumber. The quality of his sixth goal in seven games totally out of character from the substandard game.

In line with current trends, the game’s major talking point revolved around the weak refereeing of Lewis Smith. The tackle by Freddie Potts was a clear foul and deserving of the yellow card originally selected by Smith. For the referee to change his mind, not due to advice from some guy in a bunker at Stockley Park, but due to the reaction of the Burton players was diabolical. Yet another irony of officiating whereby waving an imaginary card gets you a booking, but mobbing the referee gets the decision changed.

By the end, the Hammers were hanging on. But Nuno’s gamble or resting key players for the relegation battle had paid off. As with the previous round extra time had been required but we were into the hat for the 5th round draw. We shouldn’t scoff at this. It is an above average achievement for the club who since their last FA Cup win in 1980 have been dumped out of the competition by this stage in 60% of seasons.  

It was difficult to judge the performances of the young players in the circumstances. I have a general concerning our academy graduates in that they tend to be developed as tidy rather than exciting. Competent at receiving the ball, controlling it and making a simple pass, but lacking enough va va voom to make them special. Of those I’ve seen, Ezra Mayers looks to be the leading prospect.  

Last night’s 5th round draw turned up a home tie against bogey side Brentford. Games will be played on the weekend of March 7/8 after three more league games have taken place. Teams will be starting to take the cup more seriously by this stage, giving the managers plenty more to think about in what is shaping up to be an open tournament. West Ham will still be in survival chasing mode by then, while Brentford might well be eyeing Champion’s League qualification. It’s not the worst of draws but still a very difficult obstacle to overcome.

During the FA Cup hiatus, the Under The Hammers supercomputer, Deep Block, has been analysing the thousands of possible permutations and scenarios for the remaining league games. It concluded that the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe and points needed to guarantee Premier League survival is 42. A target that would require West Ham to pick up 18 points from the upcoming 12 games. That’s a minimum of 5 wins and a handful of draws. Not impossible but still a huge change of fortune for a team that has won just 30 of their last 100 league games, while averaging 1.15 points per game. Repeating such form would take us only to 38 points which may well not be enough. Below is my own winnability ranking of the 12 games to go.

The uphill challenge begins on Saturday with the visit of Bournemouth to the London Stadium. It is one of the games I feel that must be won if safety is to be achieved. But Bournemouth are an enigma. Losing player after player but then finding they have another one hidden up their sleeve. This time a teenage Brazilian (Rayan) who has slotted seamlessly into English football with two goals and an assist in 198 minutes played.

The Hammer’s preparations have been hampered by a mysterious injury to new signing Pablo. The striker becoming the latest occupant of the Andy Carroll suite at West Ham’s Rush Green Infirmary. Pablo’s absence will require a change to the more adventurous formation that had kickstarted our recent revival. My instinct is that Nuno will use Jean-Clair Todibo’s return from suspension as the excuse for a reprise of the three at the back experiment as follows: Hermansen – Todibo, Disasi, Mavropanos – Wan-Bissaka, Fernandes, Soucek, Diouf – Bowen, Taty, Summerville.

COYI!

Cup Dreams or Banana Skins? West Ham visit Burton in Classic FA Cup Fourth Round Contest

As a West Ham fan, the build-up to this Saturday’s FA Cup Fourth Round tie against Burton Albion is a familiar mix of anticipation and nerves. Our league campaign has been a struggle so far, with the team sitting 18th in the Premier League and every point feeling increasingly precious. Yet, there’s a sense that the FA Cup could be the spark we need to turn our season around. I’ve read some that say forget the cup and concentrate on staying in the Premier League. I don’t agree.  

Saying this, our recent form has shown signs of life and we are not down yet. 2026 started badly with a comprehensive 3-0 defeat at bottom of the table Wolves, one of our worst performances in years (and there have been a few!). Following this three days later the home defeat to Forest (unlucky as it was it some respects) suggested that our chances of escaping the drop were disappearing fast. The cup win over QPR, even if it took extra time, seemed to inject some much-needed confidence into the squad, and we began to feel the mood shifting ever so slightly.

The last five games since then have yielded 10 points in the league with away wins at Tottenham and Burnley, a home win over Sunderland, a 3-2 defeat at Chelsea after leading 2-0 at half-time, and Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United with their equaliser coming in the sixth minute of time added on. The board indicated seven minutes. Where did that come from? Of course we might have been happy with the prospect of one point before the game but Sesko’s finish was a body blow and it seemed like two points lost rather than one gained. It means we have now regained sole leadership of one particular league table – points dropped from a winning position – we are now at the top with 20. If just some of those leads had been retained how different the league table would look now.

Of course, as any West Ham supporter knows, the FA Cup is never straightforward for us. Our history in the competition in my lifetime is varied, three-time winners (the last one coming in 1980 over 45 years ago), and twice runners-up, but it’s also littered with those infamous “banana skins.” Losses to the likes of AFC Wimbledon, Wigan, and West Brom in recent years have left scars alongside those from years gone by – the list is endless – Huddersfield, Stoke, Plymouth, Blackburn, Swindon, Huddersfield again, Coventry, Middlesbrough, Blackpool, Huddersfield (for a third time!), Hull, Hereford, Newport County, Wrexham, Watford, Sheffield Wednesday, QPR, Norwich, Torquay, Barnsley, Luton, QPR (again), Grimsby, Wrexham (again), Swansea, Tranmere, Sheffield Wednesday (again), Sheffield Wednesday (for a 3rd time), Nottingham Forest, and Sheffield United. Those are just some that I can recall from my many years of following the team and to them can be added a similar number of League Cup exits to lower league opposition. There’s always that nagging worry that we might slip up once again.

Burton Albion, for their part, are having a tough time in League One, sitting 21st and fighting relegation. Their league form has been poor, with no wins in their last five, but the FA Cup has brought out a different side of them. Fourteen goals in three cup games is no fluke, and they’ll be coming into this tie with nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Still, there’s reason for optimism. On paper, our technical quality and finishing should see us through, even if the manager decides to rotate and give some fringe players a chance. The cup is a chance for those on the fringes to stake a claim, and for the team as a whole to build momentum for the league run-in. But we can’t afford to be complacent. Burton’s attacking form in the cup is a warning, and our own history tells us that nothing can be taken for granted. Most pundits are tipping us to win, and I’d like to believe we’ll get the job done, but the magic of the FA Cup means you never quite know. I’m expecting an open game, probably with goals at both ends, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it turns into a real test of character. But how good would it be to be in the draw for the fifth round?

West Ham At Burnley: Fernandes Outstanding, Summerville On Fire And The Return Of The Mads

There may yet be life left in the floundering Hammers. A third win in four games and fine individual performances raises the prospect of another great escape and puts pressure on a handful of teams immediately above us.

The welcome victory and clean sheet at Turf Moor was not quite the game of two halves that we have come to expect from West Ham. But it was a close call. The fearless ambition of the first half certainly didn’t make it back out of the dressing room after the break.

It is rare for a Nuno lineup not to prompt at least a moment or two’s head scratching when it is first announced. On this occasion it was a recall for Mads Hermansen, the keeper most responsible for the Hammer’s unhappy title as set piece concession kings. Nuno’s rationale was that Hermansen had been outstanding in training and merited a second chance. More likely was that Alphonse Areola was designated scapegoat for the manager’s poor game management at Chelsea.

In fairness, Mads did all that was asked of him and did nothing wrong. He can proudly boast to have kept goal for all (both) of the team’s league clean sheets this season. He is also far more comfortable with the ball at his feet than Areola. But I couldn’t escape the heebie jeebies whenever a high ball was drilled into the box. It’s not that Areola is the most commanding of keepers, but Mads lack of stature is an added worry. Fortunately, Burnley didn’t put him to the test apart from a brief spell of pressure after the break. More knowing opponents will surely look to target this short(!)coming.

On a positive selection note, Nuno opted to throw new loan signing Axel Disasi straight into the mix than relying on the hapless Max Kilman. It was a solid debut for Disasi who showed no sign of ring rustiness as a result of his lack of game time. Again, the caveat is that none of the defence were not unduly troubled by a poor Burnley team for whom Premier League survival is now a lost cause. It is unlikely that Scott Parker will follow in the footsteps of previous failed Burnley manager, Vincent Kompany, by landing a job at a European heavyweight.

Both West Ham goals came during a dominant first half display. The first, Mateus Fernandes’ powerful run from his own half before releasing Crysencio Summerville to dink a smart finish over the keeper. The second, a pleasing retro West Ham passing movement. Fernandes from deep to Summerville; a delightful layoff to Malick Diouf; and an excellent cross expertly headed home by Taty Castellanos. They are what I call genuine assists.

It was a fifth goal in five games for Summerville. Quite a turnaround for someone who looked like he couldn’t hit a barn door earlier in the season. And, of course, it should have been six in six had it not been for incompetent officiating in the Nottingham Forest fixture.

The second half was an anti-climax as far as West Ham attacking intent was concerned. They might have snatched a third had Jarrod Bowen’s final pass been better at the end of an impressive run, but the master plan was to protect what they had at half time without adding to the points lost from winning positions.

With Burnley making a bright start after the break, the Hammers were temporarily in panic mode and experienced several narrow escapes at the back. Nuno’s reaction was to replace a striker, Callum Wilson, with Freddie Potts in midfield. The game settled down after this with goalmouth action at a premium. While I would have liked to have seen a more adventurous change in an attempt to boost the woeful goal difference, it can be argued that the end justified the means. It was a precious three points in the bank.

As in the majority of recent games, Fernandes was the standout West Ham perfromer. A presence in midfield not seen since the departure of Declan Rice. Just a shame there is not a more influential partner to share central midfield duties with than Tomas Soucek. Aside from providing extra height in either box, the game mostly passes Soucek by. Every pass made is safe and predictable. It’s really not good enough in the modern midfield frenzy and will surely be exposed by pacier and more energetic adversaries.

The scourge of inconsistent refereeing was my other takeaway from the game. The slightest coming together in a tackle is often needlessly penalised, fouls outside and inside the box are treated differently, extravagant dives and play acting are rewarded, defenders are routinely allowed to manhandle forwards while forwards are pulled up for merely jostling defenders. Time and again Kyle Walker was allowed to get away with pushing and shoving Summerville because he knew he was lost for pace. If Adama Traore had been brought with the sole intention of clattering Walker into the advertising hoardings, I would have looked more favourably on his signing.

Victory made it three wins in the last four games for West Ham. We’re still deep in the smelly stuff but the outside prospect of escape has been renewed. No accident that the uptick in performances have coincided with the arrival of El Paco as Nuno’s right-hand man. Was it really blatant penny pinching that prevented him bringing in his own staff?

West Ham sit an encouraging seventh place in the Premier League form table (last six games) and to survive we must hope results can continue to improve. Ominously, leading that table are Tuesday night’s opponents, Manchester United. My impression of the Red Devils is a team that is lively in attack yet vulnerable at the back. That must drive our approach to the game.

It is tempting to get caught up in assessing all the odds and permutations that could arise between now and the end of the season for each team at the bottom of the table. But as Shakespeare wrote (in ‘When Saturday Doth Approach’) “That way madness lies.” Best just to focus on our own results and performances. Win as many games as we can and hopefully someone else will end up below us.

History tells us that as the season progresses, results start to become even more unpredictable. There are teams with nothing to play for, teams focusing on cup competitions and outcomes that are already settled. The Hammers face Manchester City and Aston Villa immediately after midweek Round of 16 European games. Arsenal may already have won the league by May 9 and have an eye on the chance of a double/ treble/ quadruple. Less likely but still possible, Newcastle may be preparing for a Champions League final when we play them on May 17. Does any of that help? Who knows? But at least it’s a few straws to clutch at. COYI!   

Claret & Blue Survival Showdown – Burnley and West Ham battle for Premier League future

Both West Ham and Burnley are in the relegation zone, making this a true six-pointer. Burnley sit 19th with 15 points, while West Ham are 18th with 20 points. A win for either side could be pivotal (is probably a must) in the fight for Premier League survival. A draw will be of little help to both teams. These are the two teams that have conceded the most goals in the Premier League this season.

Recent Form

Burnley
  • Last 6 League Matches: 0 wins, 3 draws, 3 defeats, 3 points
  • Season: 3 wins, 6 draws, 15 defeats, 15 points
  • Season goals: For 25, Against 47, Difference -22
  • Last Match: Lost 3-0 to Sunderland
  • Home Form: Just two wins in 12 home fixtures, but three draws in their last four at Turf Moor
  • Defensive Issues: Conceded two or more goals in four of their last five home games.
West Ham
  • Last 6 League Matches: 2 wins, 1 draw, 3 defeats, 7 points
  • Season: 5 wins, 5 draws, 14 defeats, 20 points
  • Season Goals: For 29, Against 48, Difference -19
  • Last Match: Lost 3-2 at Chelsea after leading 2-0
  • Away Form: Only one win in our last ten away games; we have conceded in 22 consecutive matches
  • Recent Upswing: Back-to-back wins against Tottenham and Sunderland before the Chelsea defeat.

Other Match Facts

Burnley are winless in their last seven Premier League games against West Ham, drawing three and losing four having won four of their previous five against us.

West Ham have won 10 out of 19 (53%) of their Premier League games against Burnley.

West Ham have already lost at Sunderland and Leeds this season. We’ve not lost against all three promoted clubs in a single campaign since 2009-10, which ironically included a 2-1 defeat away to Burnley.

Burnley are winless in their last 15 Premier League games (D5 L10), their longest winless run for 135 years in top-flight football. (D3 L4), having won four

Summary

This match is crucial for both clubs’ survival hopes. West Ham’s recent attacking form and Burnley’s defensive frailties suggest the Hammers have a slight edge, but both teams are under immense pressure and prone to lapses. Expect a hard-fought, nervy encounter with plenty at stake.

If the teams above us maintain their current points per game levels then the cut off point to avoid relegation is likely to be around 42 points, a higher figure than in most seasons. We currently have 20, so a minimum of 22 points will probably be needed in our last 14 games (it could be less, but it could be even more) to be playing in the Premier League next season. Where can 22 points come from? Make your predictions for the games to come and see how many you think we can get. Imagine how much better off we would be if we hadn’t thrown away 18 points so far this season from winning positions! Our remaining fixtures are:

Burnley (A)
Manchester United (H)
Bournemouth (H)
Liverpool (A)
Fulham (A)
Manchester City (H)
Aston Villa (A)
Wolves (H)
Crystal Palace (A)
Everton (H)
Brentford (A)
Arsenal (H)
Newcastle (A)
Leeds (H)

Nuno’s Game Management Weakness Costs West Ham Dear In Stamford Bridge Battle

The Hammer’s specialty of throwing away hard-earned points was to the fore on Saturday when Nuno needlessly pressed the defensive panic button in response to Chelsea pressure

Saturday’s game at Stamford Bridge managed to encapsulated the entire emotional range of supporting West Ham in recent seasons. A spectrum of hope, expectation, false dawns, frustrations, disbelief and anger.

A run of three straight wins had allowed the merest hint of optimism to seep into an otherwise hopeless situation. Things were still desperate but at least there was a sense that the players were prepared to give it a go. That if we went down, we would go down fighting.

In the build up to Saturday’s game, only the recklessly optimistic were predicting victory at Chelsea. Their glass half-full prophecies possibly the result of glasses being topped up too quickly and too frequently with intoxicating liquor. For the rest of us, a spirited performance capable of boosting morale and confidence for the winnable fixtures to come was the essential requirement. A point would be great, but a narrow defeat wouldn’t be a disaster if it was backed by a performance to be proud of.

It’s funny how perspectives on games can be changed by events. If you had only seen the final score, you might imagine an action-packed end-to-end thriller that was only settled in added time. But that was not the reality. It was another two-goal lead tamely thrown away after the break. Another West Ham game of two halves. No wonder Hammer’s fans were fuming. Not for the first time this season, a comfortable two goal half-time lead surrendered thanks to poor game management. The media focus would be on Chelsea’s sensational comeback. But one man’s comeback is another man’s capitulation.

West Ham have now dropped 18 points from winning positions this season (15 since the appointment of Nuno). They have taken the lead in 12 games and ended up losing four and drawing three of those matches. Had they preserved only a third of the points, then the gap to safety would be far more presentable. A half and they would be mid-table.

Exactly what goes on in the dressing room at half-time? What signals does Nuno give out to the players. Does he convey nervousness and caution? Does a half-time lead come as so much of a shock that he doesn’t know what to do or how to react? Does he permanently carry a panic button around with him ready to revert to type at the first sign of pressure? Convinced that the worst defence in the league – the one without a clean sheet since they last played against a Nuno side – are capable of holding out for an entire half as you invite the opposition to attack. And that the worst defender in the league is just the man to shore things up. There is no chance West Ham can defend their way to survival. And why try it when the relative strength is with the attacking players?

From what we have seen so far, Nuno’s game management expertise is shocking. Tactical and personnel changes when they come have been late and misguided. The common themes have been replacing forwards with defenders, defending deeper, creating massive gaps between defence and attack, isolating forwards and abandoning all pretence of ambition. Failing to occupy the opposition defenders is an open invitation to push forward and create the overloads that are invariably our undoing.

The reaction to Chelsea’s second half resurgence shouldn’t have been a change to three central defenders; but to inject fresher legs and more pace into midfield. Or fresh ideas in attack. I can just about accept the case for Tomas Soucek when his role is predominantly as an auxiliary central defender. But once Max Kilman was introduced, he should have been replaced by Freddie Potts or Soungoutou Magassa. His alarming lack of pace simply no longer works as a more advanced midfielder.

Once the twin striker formation was jettisoned, the very foundation of first half success – creating space for Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville to exploit – disappeared. The approach was doomed to failure. If a change upfront was needed, then a straight swap of Callum Wilson for Pablo would have been my preference. Continue to ask questions of the Chelsea defence, not give them the rest of the evening off.

By the end of the game, Nuno had removed all three of Pablo, Taty and Bowen to provide fans with a first glimpse of muscle-bound serial underachiever Adama Traore. We can’t say he didn’t make an impact as it was his petty confrontation with Cucurella which sparked the melee leading to Jean-Clair Todibo’s red card. I’m not saying that the eternally irritating Cucurella doesn’t deserve all the grief that comes his way, but this did not work out well for West Ham. Todibo’s absence through suspension will be critical considering who his likely replacement is likley to be.

It is difficult to know where to start with West Ham’s defending. There has been improvement at set pieces but goals against remains the highest in the league. The latest Achilles heel is the cross to the far post where central strikers are isolating aerially challenged full backs. The first two Chelsea goals both coming via this route – as had the goals conceded to QPR, Tottenham and Sunderland.

***

All eyes today will be on the slamming shut of the transfer window. The vague messages intentionally leaked from the club are that they are working hard on new signings – with the caveat that it is always a difficult environment in January. Of course, leaving your most important business to the very last moment will always be difficult – if not downright negligent.

The centre back situation is farcical given how critical it has been all season. It is now perfectly setup for the typical West Ham showdown featuring a Sullivan special foisted onto the latest reluctant manager. A no-nonsense centre back and attack minded midfielder would be an acceptable final day’s work for me, but I am fully prepared for disappointment.

Once the dust has settled and the transfer curtains finally drawn until the summer, we have only the uphill struggle to survival to concerns us. Throwing away leads and shipping an average two goals per game is not a habit that can lead to safety. The challenge starts with a massive must-win if we are to have any hope game at Burnley next Saturday. The best hope for winning the game may rely on Paco being able to lock Nuno in the Turf Moor broom cupboard while he delivers the half time pep talk. COYI!

Hope Springs Eternal: West Ham’s Survival Dream – Can Recent Form Continue in London Derby at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea host West Ham United at Stamford Bridge in a London derby with both teams seeking crucial points. Chelsea are in strong form, having won four consecutive matches in all competitions, including a comeback victory against Napoli in the Champions League on Wednesday night. They currently sit fifth in the Premier League and are pushing for a top-four finish. West Ham, meanwhile, have revived our survival hopes with back-to-back league wins, but remain in the relegation zone, five points from safety.

Historically, Chelsea have dominated this fixture, winning their last four meetings against us. The Blues have also won their last two Premier League games against the Hammers by an aggregate score of 8-0. West Ham have managed just one win in their last 18 Premier League away games at Stamford Bridge, losing the last four in a row since November 2019.

West Ham’s recent improvement is built on a more resilient defence although we still haven’t kept a clean sheet in Premier League games for ages. Only Burnley have allowed more shots on goal than West Ham this season and we have the worst goals conceded record in the league.

The attack has been strengthened with the early transfer window signings of Pablo and Taty, Wilson looks like he is staying, Summerville is in excellent form, and Bowen is always an attacking threat. New signing Adama Traore could make his debut, with manager Nuno keen to use his pace. Traore once destroyed West Ham when playing for Middlesbrough a few seasons back but hasn’t really fulfilled what was once tremendous promise. So many are writing him off already, but he hasn’t cost a lot and I, for one, will not make any judgement until we’ve seen him. Wilson wasn’t a popular signing at the start but he has proved to be useful and the critics have been silenced for now.

Nuno is obviously very keen on Traore. As quoted in the week “I know him very well, I have worked with him many years and I know him which is why I said he is unique. There are not many players with his ability on one-v-one situations. There are not many players with his speed, with his pace and I think he is going to give us many, many things. We need his threat he possesses. His energy, not only on the pitch but in the dressing room and training ground he is a special person to have around.” So I think we can expect to see him sooner rather than later.

Fernandes had an excellent game against Sunderland; it’s hard to believe he has never before scored a goal from outside the area with those two wonder strikes, the first going in, and the second (possibly even better) striking the underside of the bar. Paqueta has left the club so we won’t have to put up any longer with a player who didn’t seem interested any more with his mind set on returning to Brazil. A few moments of magic have been mixed with some mediocre displays.

While he remained he was always going to play whilst Nuno was in charge. In the week his comments on the situation were “You cannot replace Lucas because he is unique. He is a number 10 that has special qualities. You cannot find many players like Lucas in the transfer window, you cannot find them. We have to move forward with that we have.” But is it coincidence that our wins and upturn in form have been with Paqueta not playing?

Chelsea have been scoring early, netting five goals in the first ten minutes of matches this season. West Ham, conversely, have conceded nine goals in the opening ten minutes, more than any other Premier League side. Chelsea’s home form is solid, but they have dropped points from winning positions recently, so maintaining focus will be key for them. Chelsea have scored the opening goal in five of their last six Premier League games but won only one of those. Cole Palmer returned from injury and could start after a strong cameo against Napoli. Joao Pedro is in excellent form, scoring twice in the Champions League and expected to lead the attack.

Looking at the league table and recent form, only Bournemouth of the teams in the bottom half of the table (from Sunderland 11th downwards) have picked up more points in their last six games (8) than we have (7). Worryingly Leeds and Forest, the teams immediately above us have also amassed seven. Palace are in freefall collecting just two points from the last six so we must hope that they, and perhaps one or two others continue with their poor form.

Most analysts and betting sites favour Chelsea on Saturday given their form and home advantage. The consensus prediction is a Chelsea win, with scores ranging from 2-1 to 3-1. Let’s hope our recent momentum makes us competitive enough to spring a surprise. With just fifteen games of the season left we have to start closing the gap on the teams above us.

Experts Are Baffled As Half Decent Football Team Are Spotted At The London Stadium

A third win on the bounce and a more attacking philosophy has raised spirits around West Ham. It shouldn’t have taken this long to get here, but hope has been given a new lease of life.

It had been a spluttering start in Saturday’s early kick-off but once the Hammers got into their stride it transformed into their most adventurous and accomplished performance of the season. A third consecutive win in all competitions has served to lift the mood at the club and, although the situation remains desperate, there is hope that an outside chance of safety remains possible. Despite the known gaps, there is now more quality in the squad than results have led us to believe.

For a pleasant and welcome change, Nuno resisted meddling with either personnel or formation for the visit of Sunderland. Returning AFCON winner, Malick Diouf, had to settle for a berth on the bench where there was also a surprise return for the estranged James Ward-Prowse. JWP taking over the seat recently vacated by the departing Guido Rodriguez.

Witnessing West Ham attack in numbers might take some getting used to. While the introduction of Taty Castellanos and Pablo Felipe may not have glut of goals written all over it – they are no McAvennie and Cottee – their presence does occupy defenders and make space for others to exploit. Both are prepared to work hard with or without the ball and will hopefully to contribute more in front of goal as they become acclimatised to English football.

It was amusing to hear Nuno talking post-match about the importance of getting more bodies into box – as if it was a genius tactical revelation known only to him. I would ask why it has taken so long to realise this, when fans (including myself) have railed against the lack of penalty box action for the last three or four managers. Perhaps it is Paco Jemez who must be given the credit for the uncharacteristic change of direction.

The opening goal was a perfect example of its benefits. When Jarrod Bowen crossed the ball, he was one of five West Ham shirts in the area. While Sunderland defenders are distracted by the presence of Pablo, Castellanos and Tomas Soucek, space is created for the salmon-like leap of Jimmy ‘The Fish’ Summerville to thunder home his header.

In real time, the penalty looked a little soft to me, although Ollie Scarles was definitely caught as he jinked his way into the box. Bowen neatly dispatched the resultant penalty but the icing on the cake of an excellent, high energy first half ame when Mateus Fernandes long range cracker fizzed into the net. His first ever goal from outside the box.

Fernandes was excellent throughout. He runs all day, tackles hard and has an added creative spark that is lacking elsewhere in the squad. With Lucas Paqueta out of the way, it gives him extra opportunity to sparkle. I suspect he is one of those players who is only passing through at West Ham and we must enjoy him while we can.

If anything, his second long range effort in the dying seconds was even better than the first – but was unfortunately thwarted by the woodwork. The shot initiated a comedy phase of play which saw a handbags, face-off between Dinos Mavropanos and Alderete of Sunderland, and the ball crossing the line after bouncing in off Soucek’s shoulder blade. No-one seemed to know for sure what was going on or why it was eventually disallowed. If Soucek fouled the keeper, it was only because he was shoved by a defender. I did wonder whether Soucek was offside but don’t have any evidence whether this was checked.

The second half was not the usual Nuno retreat into low defensive shape, but they did take their foot off the pedal as an attacking force. The high hopes for a first London Stadium clean sheet of the season disappeared midway through the half when, for the third game in a row, a cross from the right was headed firmly past Alphonse Areola.

It was a goal out of nowhere really. Jean-Clair Todibo had been drawn out of position, Scarles went to ground too easily when he might easily have put the ball into touch, Fernandes didn’t track the runner, Mavropanos was drawn towards the ball and Soucek was slow getting back to cover. It was a team goal but not of the type we love to see.

Overall, Sunderland were disappointing. Without the injured Xhaka (who was busy starting an argument in the stands) they lacked authority and organisation; and were exposed as the strong, athletic but technically limited outfit they are. Good luck to them. It is a strategy that will see them comfortably survive their first season and is indicative of the direction that Premier League football is taking. Where athleticism has become the most important player attribute.

The buoyancy of the West Ham mood was somewhat dampened by Nottingham Forest’s victory at Brentford last night. Their five point advantage over the Hammers disappointingly restored. Closing the gap a little over the weekend would have been a welcome and timeley boost to morale. Tonight, we should all be rooting for Moyesie as his team take on Leeds United at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

With a perfect sense of timing, the Ironcast podcast this week featured an interview with Alan Curbishley where among other things he talked through the Great Escape of 2006/07. It’s worth a watch/ listen. As a crumb of comfort, here is the league table at the equivalent stage of that season.

And here we are, six games later, just the one point better off and ten points adrift from safety.

So, remember, it is not yet a lost cause. Impossible is Nunothing. We must remain positive while we can. Embrace optimism, overcome those worrying limitations that we see, and believe that rediscovered potential will turn our dreams into reality. We can survive. COYI!

Can West Ham fix the leaky roof or will Sunderland rain on our parade?

Desperation meets ambition at the London Stadium in the early Saturday kick-off as West Ham fight for survival and Sunderland chase European dreams. The match is crucial for both sides; West Ham are fighting to escape the relegation zone, while Sunderland, newly promoted, are pushing for European qualification.

West Ham sit in 18th place in the league on 17 points, five points adrift of safety, which effectively could be six with our inferior goal difference. With just 16 games of the season left, closing the gap on 17th place quickly is important if we are to have any chance of avoiding the drop.

We ended a 10-game winless run with a 2-1 victory at Tottenham last weekend and also won against QPR in the FA Cup. But we have only one win in the last six home games; and we have conceded in 16 consecutive league home matches (going back into last season) and have no clean sheet in the last 19 Premier League games, conceding 44 goals this season, the worst defensive record in the Premier League.

In fact if you had visited the London Stadium to watch every game for the last one and a half seasons you would have only seen two games where the opposition failed to score a goal, a 0-0 draw against Everton in November 2024 and a 2-0 win over Leicester in February 2025 (our last home league clean sheet!). Surely we cannot go a whole year without keeping a clean sheet at home!

If you go back to the campaign before last (2023-24) we actually kept four clean sheets in the season! If you are looking for any kind of omen in that season we kept three clean sheets in a row either side of Christmas at the London Stadium just a few days after a 2-1 victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Do you think we can do it again? No, nor do I. But can our defence finally lock the door, or will Sunderland find the spare key?

Sunderland have defied pre-season expectations and currently sit in 9th place on 33 points. They beat Crystal Palace 2-1 last weekend, ending a five-match winless run, and also progressed in the FA Cup. However they are winless in their last six away games and have struggled to score on the road. They have been solid defensively with the third-fewest goals conceded in the league, but they have not kept a clean sheet in four games.

We are desperate for points to escape the relegation zone. Our recent last minute win at Spurs has lifted spirits, but defensive frailties remain a major concern. Newly promoted Sunderland have exceeded expectations and are pushing for European qualification. However, their away form is a worry for them.

We can expect a tense, hard-fought encounter with goals at both ends. The most likely outcomes are a draw or a narrow win for either side, with Sunderland’s away struggles and West Ham’s defensive issues perhaps balancing the scales. Head to head we have lost just one of our last 12 Premier League home games against Sunderland, winning nine and drawing two, going down 3-0 in May 2011. We’ve won our last three all by the same 1-0 scoreline. But a fourth in a row would seem unlikely as we don’t keep clean sheets. But I’m hoping …. I’ve made a big play on our inability to not concede in this article and I’m desperately hoping to be proved wrong.

Sunderland are looking to complete the Premier League double over us for just the second time, previously doing so in 2010-11 when we were relegated. But our record at the London Stadium against promoted sides is very good, winning 16 of the last 21, drawing four. We haven’t actually lost at home to a promoted side for over four years, the last one was a 2-1 loss to Brentford in October 2021.

I’ve just got a feeling that maybe, just maybe, we are going to pick up three points again with a 1-0 or 2-0 victory. What are the chances of a Black Cat-astrophe for our visitors?

West Ham Midweek Briefing: Late Joy in N17, All Kicking Off at Corners and the Customary Transfer Mayhem

Winning at Tottenham with last minute scrambles, Laughing out loud cos the Spuds are a shambles, Buying defenders but not Tyrone Mings, These are a few of my favourite things!

Last Gasp Jubilation at the Tottenham Stadium

Any win against Tottenham carries with it an extra layer of smug satisfaction. Winning away makes it doubly so. Four-goal David Cross in 1981, the 1984 Easter massacre, Dani’s header in 1996, Ravel Morrison’s 2013 solo effort, and that first defeat at their new stadium in 2019. They are all part of West Ham folklore.

Whether Saturday’s game will live as long in the memory will depend more on what happens from here on in than events in the match itself. Will it kickstart another great escape or be just a momentary highlight in an otherwise miserable season. Like Kenny Brown scoring the winner against Manchester United in 1992.

With none of the bottom six teams losing at the weekend, it was a crucial time to get a result. Critical, in fact, to return home with three points rather than just the one. At least some ground was made up even if the size of the challenge remains daunting for a team whose resting state defaults to caution.  

Whether it was inspired or not by the arrival of new coach and fellow countrymen, Paco Jemez, Nuno announced a surprisingly attacking line-up to face Spurs. A retro 4-4-2 formation that featured both Taty Castellanos and Pablo Felipe up front supported by Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville on the flanks. There was no place for either Freddie Potts or Soungoutou Magassa with Tomas Soucek preferred to partner Mateus Fernandes in central midfield. The adventurous selection adding a sense of ‘Make or Break’ to the afternoon.

As we have come to expect though, it was a game of two halves from the Hammers. Or more accurately, given the amount of added time we get these days, a game of two nine-sixteenths. It’s either, an adventurous first 45 followed by ultra caution should we take the lead. Or a lethargic opener, followed by a burst of second half energy as the result of multiple half-time substitutions.

West Ham were easily the better side before the break with goalscorer Summerville and the impressive Fernandes as standout players. With only one goal to show for their efforts, however, it was always going to be a fragile lead if the intention was to defend it in the second half. Which is exactly the tactic that Nuno employed.

As for Spurs, they were dreadful in the first period but came out with more purpose in the second. Even then, despite bossing possession, their threat came mainly from hopeful long shots. But with the West Ham game plan a senseless combination of low blocking and panicked clearances, the hosts only needed one clearcut chance to draw level. Any pretence by the Hammers of rapid counterattacks or holding the ball up to ease the pressure on the defence had been left on the dressing room whiteboard. Win possession then immediately give the ball back to Spurs was the accepted modus operandi.

The goal when it came was almost a carbon copy of the one conceded to QPR in the previous weekend’s cup game. A cross from the right bypassed the centre backs who had been drawn to the near post, and the scorer stole in front of Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s token challenge to head home.

At that point, if felt that the home side were sure to go on to win the game. So, the sucker punch, when it came was completely out of the blue. Let’s not kid ourselves that introducing Callum Wilson was an inspired tactical masterstroke. The purpose was solely to waste a few more precious seconds of added time. The change should have been made 20 minutes earlier, especially with Taty on a yellow card.

The goal itself was a scrappy affair just after Wilson might have scored anyway with a decent opportunity. The resultant corner kick from Ollie Scarles was a typically benign floaty affair but Vicario flapped, the ball bounced loose and Wilson demonstrated his predatory striking skills. Amazing what a striker with an eye for goal can come up with.

I was convinced that after the wild celebrations had died down, VAR would find a way to disallow it. But this time they couldn’t, and we could all sleep soundly in our beds for a change.

All Kicking Off At The Corners

Set piece goals – and goals from corners in particular – are becoming increasingly significant in Premier League games as the antidote to the tactical stalemate of open play. More attention is paid towards their execution by (most) coaches, and teams take far longer to set up for corner kicks and throw-ins than ever before.

West Ham were once a feared set piece outfit but now, without anyone to fearlessly attack the ball in the opposition box, they have slipped down the rankings. Equally, they have no long throw exponent and have yet to score direct from a free lick this season. A set piece winner was therefore most welcome.

A by-product of the set piece shenanigans are the frequent melees in every penalty area. A confusion of pushing, pulling, holding and shoving that referees mostly ignore but, where every so often, the music stops and a penalty is awarded. Malick Diouf experienced this to his (temporary) cost in the AFCON final. In isolation, it was a stupid piece of holding. But if all similar incidents were given, we’d have six or seven penalties per game. I am sure PGMOL are frantically working on the most implausible response to stamp it out for next season.

Semi Annual Transfer Mayhem

The West Ham transfer window is its usual muddle of too many cooks spoiling the soup in a basket. There’s Max Hahn trawling through his spreadsheets, Nuno rifling through old Panini sticker albums with super-agent Jorge Mendes and the Chairmen undermining all and sundry in cahoots with his traditional transfer connections and unveiling the latest David Sillyloan special.

Sullivan may well have had a valid point about not releasing Callum Wilson but why not keep the difference of opinion in-house rather than broadcasting it to the world. Quite what we’ll end up with by the time the window closes is anyone’s guess.

From reading various West Ham discussion boards, there are plenty of opinions as to where the transfer priorities should be. A reflection of how threadbare and unbalanced the squad has been allowed to come. It is impossible to fix or fill each and every gap in the next two weeks and so any further recruitment needs to be carefully targeted to the cause of survival. To me that means players able to make an immediate impact, not extra bodies brought in as cover. The reality is that we will have to muddle through and hope for the best in some positions.

I still feel the addition of a creative ball carrying attacking midfielder is the most significant gap. Someone to replace the ineffective Paqueta in making things happen – a Morgan Gibbs-White equivalent. Others make a strong case for an additional winger or two on the basis that we mostly attack down the flanks. But my answer to that is we attack down the wings because no-one is capable enough to go through the middle. Our attacking play needs mixing up and must become much less predictable.  

It looks like the 22-year-old Venezuelan, Keiber Lamadrid will be joining on loan in the next day or two. An inexperienced South American winger to replace the one we have just let go. Will we just leave him hanging around the training ground like Luis Guilherme. It was odd that Guilherme wasn’t sent out on loan or get at least some game time with the U21s. Good luck to Keiber. If he ever gets a game, he would be the third Venezuelan after Fernando Amorebieta and Salomon Rondon to play in the Premier League. It should be noted that both experienced relegation during their stays. COYI!

London’s Underachievers Collide. But with a gap that’s becoming too wide, and no place to hide, can West Ham turn the tide and be the better side when they visit Tottenham?

This London derby is usually a tense affair, with both clubs under immense pressure. Tottenham sit 14th in the Premier League, while West Ham are 18th and very deep in relegation trouble. Both managers, Frank for Spurs and Nuno for West Ham are under scrutiny, and defeat could have serious consequences for either side’s future, although Tottenham are not as deep in the mire as we are. Historically, Tottenham have the edge in this fixture, but both teams are struggling for form and confidence.

Tottenham are winless in 2026, with only one win in their last seven games. Their home form is poor, with just two wins in their last ten league matches at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. They were recently knocked out of the FA Cup by Aston Villa. West Ham are winless for even longer, in our last ten Premier League matches in fact, where six have been lost and four drawn. We are seven points adrift of safety, an almost but not yet impossible position. We cannot afford to fall any further behind and need to start closing the gap on teams above us quickly if we are to have any hope of avoiding the drop. Our only recent win came in extra time against QPR in the FA Cup. Defensive frailties are a major concern, with no clean sheets in 19 matches.

Tottenham will be without Richarlison (hamstring), Kudus (thigh), Kulusevski (knee), Maddison (ACL), Bentancur (hamstring), and Sarr (AFCON). Bergvall is also a doubt.  New signing Conor Gallagher is available and could debut, Romero returns from suspension. And both Solanke and Udogie are back in the squad.

West Ham will be without Mavropanos (neck), and Diouf (AFCON). Paqueta is doubtful (back, and supposedly unsettled anyway, did I read correctly that he has only provided one assist in the last two seasons?), and Fernandes (don’t think I’ve read why). Wan-Bissaka returns from AFCON and is likely to start at right-back. Kilman will probably partner Todibo in central defence?

Tottenham have struggled to score and win at home, but (I hate to say it) have a slight edge in quality and squad depth. Six of their seven league wins have come with a clean sheet. Their defensive record is shaky, but the return of Romero could help.

Our defensive issues are glaring, especially from set pieces (most goals conceded from corners in the league, a fact that we constantly are reminded of with every corner we concede when shown on TV). We have lost all six London derbies this season and have not won away in 11 games. However, clutching at straws, Nuno has a good personal record at Spurs’ ground from previous roles.

Most experts predict a narrow Tottenham win (2-1 is a common scoreline), but a draw is also seen as plausible given both teams’ struggles. This is really based on Tottenham’s home advantage, West Ham’s defensive woes, and the psychological pressure on both managers.

There is a real sense of crisis and frustration for the fans of both clubs, but more so for us as relegation is now an odds-on probability. I can’t remember where I read of the fixture being described as “The Underachievers Derby,” but it is very true with both sets of fans desperate for a positive result but realistic about the limitations of the teams this season. There’s also the continued speculation about managerial changes and the need for squad rebuilds at both clubs. How long have we needed a squad rebuild at West Ham?

In summary we head to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium desperate to halt a winless Premier League run and close the gap on safety. With defensive frailties exposed and relegation looming, the pressure is mounting on Nuno and the squad. Injuries and absences have left the team stretched, but the return of key players may offer a glimmer of hope, especially as Tottenham are missing some key players. Despite a poor record in London derbies and away matches, we know that tightening up at the back and showing resilience could make a difference in this high-stakes clash. All of us as fans are craving a turnaround, but realism tempers expectations as we fight for survival against fellow underachievers. But unless we start to close the gap soon relegation will become an inevitability well before the end of the season, and this is the type of game where we must pick up something if we are to stand any chance of playing in the Premier League next season. It’s looking pretty hopeless isn’t it, but I try to be as optimistic as I can.