Tottenham travel to Sunderland this afternoon with a 2.00 pm kick off knowing that anything other than a win will keep them in the relegation zone. The north London side, on their third manager this season, are 18th after West Ham’s 4 – 0- battering of Wolves on Friday night lifted the Hammers above their rivals.
According to the yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk, West Ham’s big defeat of Wolves has created a huge swing in the predicted outcome of the season’s relegation battle, which will serve as a warning to De Zerbi’s new side.
As Leeds, Nottingham Forest and Spurs all face their own challenges this weekend to match West Ham’s result, the ‘Yorkshire Evening Post’ reported that the ‘super computer’ they’ve been reporting on all season -that has consistently had the Hammers relegated in 18th – has now shifted:
“Huge Leeds United, West Ham, Tottenham, Forest battle change in bookies’ predicted final Premier League table:
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Much of course depends upon Spurs’ first outing under new boss De Zerbi this afternoon: Any hint of the defensive frailties which have bedevilled the Spuds’ season will send tremors through the side.
According to the nytimes.com,“West Ham are showing the kind of consistency, unity and identity Tottenham desperately need.”
If there are signs of the ‘new manager bounce’ that every north London fan will be praying for, the predictions that West Ham will escape the drop may prove to be a trifle premature. Leeds and Spurs have to play each other ahead of West Ham’s final day showdown against Leeds and those two games could easily determine the final outcome for the Hammers.
Today, however, we are all Sunderland supporters.