Hammers News

As if life wasn’t painful enough for Teddy Sheringham right now, he can’t even play a round of golf without former West Ham United defender James Collins mocking him over Tottenham Hotspur’s potential relegation from the Premier League.

It is nine weeks since Callum Wilson scored that winner at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and the Hammers have picked up 12 more points than their bitter London rivals.

Suddenly, the prospect of relegation is not merely an exaggerated if wistful joke at Spurs’ expense, but a very real possibility.

This team stays up ahead of Spurs 😎

Only debate is Dinos or Todibo….

West Ham will leapfrog Tottenham if they beat Wolves in their first Premier League match back after the international break and the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Should results go West Ham United’s way on matchday 32, James Collins might not be receiving many more invitations to join Spurs icon Sheringham on the golf course.

West Ham icon makes Teddy Sheringham’s Tottenham anxiety even worse

Speaking via We Are Peak on TikTok, Sheringham lambasted the leadership – or a lack thereof – at a club sleepwalking towards arguably the most calamitous relegation in Premier League history.

“Right, I’m concerned. Not about the golf, not about my padel. No, I’m concerned about Tottenham Hotspur,” Sheringham begins fairly ominously.

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“I’ve just been playing golf with the boys. [Former winger] Simon Davis is a Tottenham fan. [But] ‘Ginge’ didn’t care, he’s a West Ham boy. He wants us to go down. He wants Spurs to go down rather than West Ham, doesn’t he?

“So he doesn’t care… but we’re concerned.”

Ex-West Ham assistant Edin Terzic is wanted by Athletic Bilbao, and is now actively canvassing opinion from the likes of Hansi Flick and Jupp Heynckes about a move to La Liga. Terzic was reportedly approached by Spurs before the disastrous and surely-short-lived appointment of Igor Tudor [The Athletic].

Exactly how short-term, though, remains to be seen.

Teddy Sheringham does not want Adi Hutter in for Igor Tudor

According to The Telegraph, former Eintracht Frankfurt and Monaco coach Adi Hutter has been lined up as an emergency solution. If you thought West Ham were poorly run, at least the Hammers have never had to replace an interim coach with another interim coach.

“Why has it all gone quiet at Tottenham Hotspur? It’s the international break, and it all seems to have gone quiet at Tottenham,” fumes Sheringham, who played nearly 200 games for Spurs between 1992 and his move to Manchester United in 1997.

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“Tell you what needs to be done, if this fella [Tudor] is getting the sack – which he should be – now I’m hearing they are having talks with another foreign guy [Hutter].

“What does this guy know about the Premier League? What does this guy know about Premier League players, about the stadiums, the pitches, about the players he’s got at his disposal?

“What the hell is going on at Tottenham Hotspur? Please, do not make this mistake again!”

For many, the relegation battle comes down to West Ham United against Tottenham Hotspur.

Assuming that Wolves and Burnley are already down, there is only one remaining spot at the foot of the Premier League table.

Nottingham Forest and Leeds are also in the battle, but West Ham and Spurs are slight favourites for relegation heading into the proverbial business end of the Premier League season.

Optimist or Realist? Share your number and defend it in the comments

Spurs are a point above their London rivals but few would doubt that they are in a total crisis right now. West Ham, meanwhile, have much more momentum.

A win over Wolves next month would lift the Hammers out of the relegation zone for a few hours at least, but pundit Simon Jordan doesn’t think Nuno Espirito Santo’s side will do enough to beat the drop.

He does, however, say that Forest or Spurs being relegated would be a much bigger story.

Jordan thinks Spurs are a bigger club and that Forest chaos is more interesting

Speaking on talkSPORT, co-host Jim White asked Jordan if he still expected West Ham to get relegated.

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The former Crystal Palace owner said: “I do.

“Not because I want them to as West Ham fans seem to be alighting upon.

“If anything, if you want a media story, you want Forest or Spurs to go down and West Ham stay up because if Forest go down and West Ham stay up, it’s all about [Evangelos] Marinakis and Nuno Espirito Santo.

“If Spurs go down, it’s a huge story because you’ve got rid of Daniel Levy, you’ve got this huge stadium, this massive football club, so there’s much more interest in that than West Ham going down.”

Jordan probably isn’t wrong when talking about the landscape beyond the bubble here in east London.

Still, there’s little doubt that relegation from the Premier League only a few years after European success would still be a huge story and a painful one for supporters who have seen their club mismanaged every step of the way since that night in Prague.

The idea of the London Stadium, for all its obvious faults, could host Championship games next season is a major concern.

Spurs being relegated would have more of global interest, while Forest succumbing to it would allow people to further criticise the controversial Evangelos Marinakis.

Hopefully, West Ham can be the driving force in generating such an outcome.

Former West Ham United assistant Edin Terzic was reportedly on the radar of Tottenham Hotspur before the ill-fated appointment of Igor Tudor.

So, as the floundering Tudor hangs by a thread at free-falling Spurs, was there a possibility that the Hammers’ relegation rivals could turn to a man who spent two years alongside Slaven Bilic at Upton Park and the London Stadium?

According to The Athletic, Terzic was ‘informally approached’ by Tottenham in the wake of Thomas Frank’s overdue departure in February.

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As it transpired, the former West Ham United assistant did not want to take over a club without the benefit of a full pre-season, especially one in as much danger as Spurs.

The soon-to-be vacant Athletic Bilbao dugout, then, ticks far more boxes as far as Edin Terzic is concerned.

Ex-West Ham United assistant Edin Terzic set for Athletic Bilbao

While former Monaco and RB Leipzig boss Adi Hutter is now in the frame to take over from Tudor at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Diario AS report that Terzic has emerged as the leading contender to replace the legendary Ernesto Valverde at San Mames.

Valverde, who led Barcelona to successive La Liga titles in 2018 and 2019, recently announced that he will leave his beloved Athletic in the summer.

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President Jon Uriate has selected Terzic as his number one target, over Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola.

Now, AS reports that Terzic has discussed a move to Spain with Barcelona’s ex-Bayern Munich coach Hansi Flick, in addition to the iconic Jupp Heynckes. The man who guided Bayern to a treble in 2013 coached Athletic for two years just after the turn of the century.

Where would West Ham be right NOW if we hadn’t sacked Graham Potter? 🤔

Let's here your views!

Igor Tudor faces Spurs exit as Chris Hughton rumours emerge

Unlike Tottenham – who need a manager, a saviour right here, right now – Terzic would have the luxury of taking over Athletic following the final game of the current campaign. Replacing Valverde, who won Athletic their first Copa del Rey title in 40 years, would be no easy task.

But far less risky than inheriting a poisoned chalice and taking one of the biggest clubs in English football into the Championship for the first time ever.

According to TEAMtalk, former West Ham full-back Chris Hughton has been considered by Tottenham as, well, an interim to replace the existing interim.

West Ham will fear a potential new manager bounce as relegation rivals Tottenham Hotspur close on a replacement for Igor Tudor after a U-turn from Roberto De Zerbi.

The Hammers and Spurs are locked in a relegation battle heading into the final seven games of the Premier League season.

Just one point separates West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur – and Nuno Espirito Santo’s side can climb above their rivals with a win over Wolves when the action resumes after the international break.

Tottenham’s woeful form since the turn of the year is in marked contrast to that of West Ham, who have closed a 12-point gap on the north Londoners to a solitary point in that time.

West Ham sweat over new manager bounce at Spurs

Igor Tudor has endured a disastrous spell as interim boss at Tottenham – so it is in West Ham’s interests that the Croatian’s tenure continues.

Now there is about to be a cat set amongst the pigeons in the relegation battle.

Where would West Ham be right NOW if we hadn’t sacked Graham Potter? 🤔

Let's here your views!

And West Ham will be sweating as Spurs are on the brink of appointing a new boss after a Roberto De Zerbi U-turn.

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Tottenham have reportedly agreed Tudor’s exit by ‘mutual consent’ after their 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest over the weekend.

Earlier this month there was concern among Hammers fans as Spurs closed in on free agent De Zerbi.

That turned to relief when the fiery and innovative Italian reportedly told Tottenham he would not consider the job until the summer – on the condition they remained in the Premier League.

However, a renewed push from Spurs for the ex Brighton boss resurrected West Ham’s worries that De Zerbi could come in and spark a revival at a pivotal moment.

It was claimed by Sky Sports News reporter Michael Bridge this week that De Zerbi was considering a new approach from Tottenham which included clauses that he could leave if they were relegated come what May.

Spurs on brink of new boss after fresh De Zerbi snub

In a new twist, though, De Zerbi has once again turned Spurs down – but West Ham’s rivals are banking on a new manager bounce from an alternative it seems.

Leading Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio reports that De Zerbi will not be taking charge of Tottenham’s last seven games and will wait until the summer before finding his next job.

Is this the WORST prediction of the season? 😂

Rob Earnshaw predicts West Ham to get just 3 more points…

But West Ham will have more than one eye on whether Adolf Hutter will get a new manager bounce.

The Telegraph claims Austrian Hutter, formerly manager of Monaco, is expected to sign up to replace Tudor ‘in the coming days’.

Hutter has managed in Austria, Switzerland, Germany and France.

The big worry for West Ham will be Hutter getting any kind of honeymoon period given what is at stake.

West Ham will have to ensure they finish at least one point above Tottenham, Forest or Leeds if they are to survive.

Because all three teams effectively have a one-point advantage over the Hammers due to superior goal differences.

While Tottenham were losing 3-0 at home to Forest, West Ham were comfortably beaten 2-0 at Aston Villa.

A win against Wolves next time out will put the Hammers on 32 points, two above Tottenham, level with Forest and one behind Leeds.

That will pile the pressure on with Spurs facing a tough trip to Sunderland two days later, Forest playing Villa and Leeds away at Man United.

Jamie Carragher has sent West Ham a message of hope for survival.

But it seems increasingly like West Ham will need at least 39 points to have any chance of survival – meaning three wins and a draw, or the equivalent, is needed in the final seven games.

Relegation run-in remaining fixtures:

Joe Cole feels West Ham United’s hopes of Premier League survival may ride or die on just one of their remaining seven top-flight fixtures.

Beat rock-bottom Wolves at the London Stadium on the first league game back after the international break and FA Cup, and the Hammers will be out of the drop zone by the time Tottenham Hotspur, Nottingham Forest and Leeds even kick off.

There are currently only four points separating West Ham United from Leeds in 15th.

Is this the WORST prediction of the season? 😂

Rob Earnshaw predicts West Ham to get just 3 more points…

Nuno’s side have picked up a staggering 12 more than Tottenham since beating their arch rivals away from home on January 17th.

Joe Cole cannot shake the feeling that, if they extend that tally to 15 with a home win against Wolverhampton Wanderers – shoving Spurs into the bottom three as a result – this would have a massive psychological impact on the mindset of both sides

Beat Wolves and West Ham United will stay in the Premier League, Joe Cole thinks

“So, it’s the international break. Then it’s the FA Cup, then Wolves at home,” Cole says on The Dressing Room podcast. “That, for me, is West Ham’s season.

“Sometimes, they are the hardest games to win. When you’re in a relegation fight, you go into games and sometimes it’s easier. But when the onus is on you…

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“The fans go to the stadium, West Ham fans are like, ‘We have to win this game’. So, it’s a different challenge for the lads. But that, for me, is the game.

“If West Ham win that game, I think they stay up. That’s how important it is. Momentum in football, everyone expects them to win it. The players know they have to win it. If they win, it lifts the whole place up.

“But if you don’t win it…”

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The Hammers can leapfrog Tottenham while Leeds face Manchester United

Igor Tudor is already under near-intolerable levels of pressure at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The interim boss was subjected to another fierce round of boos after Spurs slipped to a humiliating 3-0 home defeat by relegation rivals Nottingham Forest; their last Premier League outing for two weeks.

Next up is a trip to a Sunderland side with a fine home record, further buoyed by their derby victory over Newcastle. Leeds face Manchester United at Old Trafford, while Nottingham Forest host Champions League-chasing Aston Villa.

West Ham not only have the advantage of going first on matchday 32, then, they also have comfortably the easiest game on paper.

“You’re right [about] that,” Carlton Cole says in response to his namesake Joe. “And I think Nuno would have addressed that [after the Aston Villa defeat]. After the game, he would have said, ‘Listen, our next game at home is against Wolves, my old club’.

“Nuno, he can sink two ships here in one swift move! Wolves are already sunk. They’re gone. So he’s put that to bed.

“But Nottingham Forest? They did him dirty [sacking Nuno in August]. Spurs? They did him dirty. So those are the two clubs he’s thinking, ‘Relegation fodder! I’m putting you lot down. I’m sinking this ship!’.”

Paco Jemez is already well on his way to being something of a cult hero at West Ham – now he may just have cemented that status with a revelation about bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

West Ham and Spurs are locked in a fight for Premier League survival heading into the last seven games of the season.

The Hammers were comfortably beaten 2-0 by Aston Villa while Tottenham Hotspur were being thumped 3-0 at home by relegation rivals Nottingham Forest.

It means West Ham now trail Spurs by one point.

West Ham coach Jemez snubbed Spurs and now he could send them down

And Nuno Espirito Santo’s side can pile the pressure on Tottenham by dumping them into the bottom three with a win over Wolves at home after the international break – before Igor Tudor’s side play Sunderland away the following day.

If West Ham do manage to survive at the expense of Spurs, it is fair to say Hammers fans would absolutely love it.

What would you say if Paco Jemez took Nuno’s job?

He's certainly made a big impact…

One man who has been key to West Ham even being in with a chance of staying up is Paco Jemez.

The no-nonsense coach was drafted in as Nuno’s new assistant at the turn of the year and has been praised by players and fans for his impact.

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Ironically that started with West Ham’s last gasp 2-1 win at Tottenham back in January which sparked a run of just two defeats in 12 games for the Hammers.

The former Ibiza manager’s influence has also been noted by pundits, with Jamie Carragher saying Jemez can be the difference in West Ham staying up.

Now Jemez has made a Tottenham Hotspur revelation that will delight West Ham fans.

Not only has Jemez helped the Hammers close a 12-point gap on Spurs to just one point, he also turned them down.

West Ham Central has posted Jemez’s claim on X, stating: “Paco Jemez says he rejected an offer to join Nuno at Tottenham a few years ago.”

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Just when West Ham fans thought Jemez couldn’t get any better.

Jemez’s impact has gone beyond tactics.

The Spaniard has resonated with Hammers fans, most notably when Jemez read the riot act to Nuno on the touchline over his tactics.

Nuno wanted to bring on Max Kilman to see out a game. But Jemez revealed afterwards that he was telling the Portuguese to make a more attacking sub instead.

West Ham supporters love to see that kind of passion and Jemez also showed he meant business and had not come to east London to be a ‘yes man’ for the head coach.

Now it has been revealed he snubbed Spurs, Jemez will only further endear himself to the Hammers faithful.

He will become a bona fide West Ham cult hero if the Irons stay up over Spurs.

The Hammers likely need at least three wins – and perhaps a draw – from their remaining fixtures to give themselves a realistic chance of survival, though the exact number could shift depending on results around them.

Crucially, there are still winnable games on the schedule. Home fixtures will be key, with the London Stadium needing to become a fortress for the run-in. But there are also tricky away trips where simply picking up a point could prove vital.

Tottenham, meanwhile, are dealing with their own pressure. Their run-in is mixed, with a combination of sides pushing for Europe and fellow strugglers.

That could work in West Ham’s favour but goal difference may yet prove decisive and the Hammers’ is vastly inferior as things stand.

West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest are all battling for Premier League survival – and Spurs have been hit with an almighty blow.

Indeed, this season’s relegation battle is incredibly tight and while Spurs sit above West Ham United by just a point in the Premier League table, that could all change this weekend.

Optimist or Realist? Share your number and defend it in the comments

Igor Tudor’s side actually host Forest on Sunday while West Ham play away at Aston Villa in a hugely dramatic day of Premier League action.

There is a very real chance that the Hammers could overtake at least one of them heading into the final international break of the season.

In the build-up to that Forest game, Spurs have confirmed that first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario will undergo surgery next week on a hernia.

Vicario set for surgery as Spurs must turn to Antonin Kinsky

An official statement on Tottenham’s official website read: “We can confirm that Guglielmo Vicario will undergo surgery next week on a hernia.

“The minor procedure for the Italy international goalkeeper has been timed to have as minimal an impact on our season as possible.

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“Guglielmo will commence his rehabilitation with our medical staff immediately, and it is hoped that he could return to action within the next month.”

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That is a major blow for Spurs. Their back-up goalkeeper is Antonin Kinsky – who was linked with West Ham United during the January transfer window.

Though clearly a talented ‘keeper, Kinsky made two high-profile mistakes during Tottenham’s Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid earlier this month.

Tudor was criticised for his handling of the situation, having subbed Kinsky off 17 minutes into that game earlier this month and for subsequently supposedly ignoring the distraught goalkeeper on his way past.

The idea, then, that Tottenham have to turn to a goalkeeper who has been dealing with that of late is hardly ideal for them ahead of such a huge run of games, particularly considering the fact that the north London side are already missing so many other key players through injury.

West Ham currently have all the momentum in the relegation battle despite sitting a point behind Spurs and they could pass their bitter rivals in the table imminently.

There was a time in the not-too-distant past when Roberto De Zerbi was being linked with West Ham but now he could help send them down as the new manager of bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

The Hammers pulled level on points with Spurs in the Premier League relegation battle after a hard-fought point in a 1-1 draw against Man City.

Now West Ham have a watching brief as Tottenham face a daunting trip to Anfield to face Liverpool.

Since Nuno Espirito Santo’s side beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 at the start of January, West Ham have closed a 12-point gap.

West Ham concern as Spurs close on De Zerbi

It is West Ham’s form which has piled the pressure on Spurs and made them favourites for the drop in the eyes of many.

There is a four-way fight between West Ham, Tottenham, Leeds and Nottingham Forest to avoid joining Burnley and Wolves in the Championship.

Finish this sentence!

Mavropanos' performance is the best by a West Ham defender since… ?

With the Hammers in fine form and Tottenham’s performances and results desperately bad, interim boss Igor Tudor is already in line for the sack.

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Tottenham’s crisis should be music to West Ham’s ears.

But the reality could now be very different given developments out of north London.

West Ham will be concerned as Spurs close in on game-changer boss Roberto De Zerbi.

When the Hammers’ hierarchy were looking at candidates to replace David Moyes, hot-headed Italian tactician De Zerbi was on West Ham’s shortlist.

However, fiery De Zerbi’s fallout at Brighton put off a number of potential suitors such as West Ham and he ended up taking over at Marseille.

Fiery De Zerbi can change relegation picture at Tottenham

A tempestuous tenure in France came to an end when De Zerbi left Marseille by mutual consent a month ago, following a 5-0 defeat to rivals Paris Saint-Germain and amid a poor run of form.

Now, though, De Zerbi looks set to return to England as Tottenham’s last roll of the dice to stay in the Premier League.

They say never fall in love with a loan player, but we’ve all done it before 😂

The Telegraph recently claimed talks have been held at Spurs about appointing De Zerbi if they manage to avoid relegation with Manchester United also lurking.

Fabrizio Romano has also claimed De Zerbi is Tottenham’s “dream candidate” to take over from Tudor.

The Sun reports Tottenham are ‘in the process of replacing Tudor’ with the Liverpool match expected to be the Croatian’s last in charge.

That could be bad news for the Hammers with Manchester United site The Peoples’ Person reporting that personal terms are the final hurdle for Tottenham before De Zerbi takes over.

One thing that is assured with De Zerbi is that he will get his team fired up, pressing hard and working tirelessly.

That has been a feature of all his sides from Sassuolo to Brighton and Marseille.

Regardless of Tottenham’s terrible form, the north Londoners clearly have quality players.

So West Ham and co will be justifiably worried about De Zerbi’s impact if he gets those players grafting for results in the last eight games of the season.

One look at the remaining fixtures suggests Tottenham have several winnable games in order to fend off the threat of West Ham.

Tottenham have winnable matches against Forest, Sunderland, Brighton, Wolves, Leeds and Everton to come during the run-in.

De Zerbi-ball – and the Italian’s clear passion on the side line – would also likely be a hit with Spurs fans so he could lift the whole club at the worst possible time for West Ham.

Assuming personal terms won’t be an issue, the Hammers will just have to hope Tottenham are a lost cause for any manager right now.

Relegation run-in remaining fixtures:

Fists clenched, chest pumped, Konstantinos Mavropanos knew what this meant. Not only for West Ham United, but for their bitter Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

After what was the umpteenth block of a performance which warrants immediate entry into the annals of Hammers history, the coming of the full time whistle saw Dinos Mavropanos as relieved as any of the 60,000 or so home fans in a stadium rocking – this time – for all the right reasons.

How Tottenham could do with a centre-half as committed, as imposing, as proactive as he, former West Ham United and Spurs goalkeeper Joe Hart wondered aloud on BBC’s Match of the Day.

Finish this sentence!

Mavropanos' performance is the best by a West Ham defender since… ?

You can keep your Argentine World Cup winners and your Dutch speed demons. Mavropanos has never played better in a West Ham shirt. To a man, Nuno Espirito Santo’s backline was immense from minute one to minute, what, 96?

Unfortunately for those in the north of the capital – those based in N17, anyway – neither Cristian Romero nor Micky van de Ven appear to have even a fraction of Mavropanos’ heart, discipline or will between them.

Joe Hart thinks Tottenham need a player like West Ham United’s Konstantinos Mavropanos

“What a point it is for West Ham,” said Hart, who played 33 games for the two London giants towards the end of his goalkeeping career. “I am sure that will just keep their momentum going.

“They look really united. You look at Tottenham at the moment and you don’t think you are going to get that sort of performance, which is what is required when you are struggling down at the bottom.”

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Hart paid particular notice to one of the four shots Mavropanos blocked on an evening in which he also recorded ten clearances while even scoring a goal; The first centre-back to score for West Ham since 2023, away to Arsenal.

Mavropanos was poleaxed by a thunderous Erling Haaland volley to the face. He carried on though. Of course he did.

“Sometimes, it’s about taking those blocks,” added Hart. “Like the Mavropanos one to the grill, that’s what you need to be doing.

“Whether the other [relegation-threatened] teams are capable of that remains to be seen.”

Hammers have ‘massive advantage’ over Tottenham and Nottingham Forest

Since beating Igor Tudor’s flailing, free-falling charges on January 17th, West Ham have accumulated 13 more points than Tottenham.

After leapfrogging Nottingham Forest, at least until Vitor Pereira’s side host Fulham on Sunday at 2pm, a likely defeat away to Liverpool will see West Ham and Spurs enter matchday 31 level on points.

Who was West Ham’s MOTM vs Man City and why?!

“It’s a massive psychological advantage, when you’ve been in the relegation zone for so long and you see yourselves out of it…” said Ashley Williams, the former Swansea City captain and Everton stalwart.

“Those Forest and Spurs players are going to bed tonight knowing they have to win tomorrow. They had to before, but now they absolutely have to – especially Forest.

“You don’t want to see yourself beneath that line.”

Mavropanos ends his 86-game Premier League wait for a goal

The last time a centre-half got himself on a Premier League scoresheet for West Ham, funnily enough, came via Mavropanos’s sizeable noggin.

Scoring in a 2-0 win away to Arsenal and an equaliser against Manchester City; he certainly picks his moments.

“I think from the whole team, the effort was amazing because we didn’t let them create something really dangerous in open play,” a delighted, presumably still-dazed Mavropanos said after notching what was only a second goal in 95 games.

“Obviously, they had also some chances from set-pieces when we were defending deep, but I think our defending was amazing. We knew that it was going to be a tough game, as the opponent is really tough, and it’s an important point for us.”

“We’ve trained a lot on corners and it was finally a moment for me to score because it’s been a while,” the former Arsenal youngster beamed, inadvertently putting his old employers nine points clear at the summit.

“I’m really happy that I did it in this important game, and especially at home, because it’s my first goal at home. I hope that I gave a lot of happiness to the fans as well.

“We had a really tough first half of the season, but we worked so hard, and now we can show it on the pitch as well. We just want to keep it up and keep the momentum.”

Formerly of West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur, while we do not want to put words in Jermain Defoe’s mouth, one suspects he is hoping Nottingham Forest are the loser of this three-horse race for survival.

Two of the ex-England striker’s old employers are situated in the Premier League’s bottom five heading into matchday 30.

Since winning in North London in mid-January, West Ham have claimed 12 more points than Tottenham and eight more than Nottingham Forest. Momentum is very much in Nuno Espirito Santo’s favour, then, even if an injury to star man Crysencio Summerville dents that new-found confidence.

Jermain Defoe is a huge Summerville fan. He and the rest of us will have to hope that Jarrod Bowen and co can do the business without the flying Dutchman when Manchester City come to town on Saturday evening though.

Speaking to talkSPORT, Defoe indicates that a West Ham side even without Summerville may have a greater chance of remaining a Premier League club than their bitter rivals from North London.

“Yeah, it’s a massive chance [Tottenham go down],” says Defoe, who left West Ham for Spurs in January 2004. “I think all of a sudden the players have to understand that it’s the reality.

“When I look at the other teams, when I look at Forest, I see a team that’s fighting. They’ve got matchwinners and they’ve experienced this before.

“I look at West Ham; again, a team that’s fighting. A team that’s got matchwinners. I mean, that young Summerville, I love watching him play.

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“I look at the performances. Not so much the results. I look at the performances because when you perform well, eventually, you get results. Even Leeds, I look at some of their performances.

“Those three teams are actually playing well, and then I look at Tottenham. At the minute, it doesn’t even look like we’re winning any football match.”

Summerville produced a ‘magnificent’ finish to beat Fulham in West Ham’s most recent Premier League outing. In stark contrast, Tottenham went to Craven Cottage and were lucky to only lose 2-1. That is one of five league matches Spurs have lost in succession.

Atletico deepened the gloom hanging over Igor Tudor at the Wanda Metropolitano in midweek too; a 5-2 thumping which leaves Tudor in a very unique position of being an interim head coach in real danger of the sack.

With Liverpool to come away from home on Sunday, it does not get any easier for the beleaguered ex-Juventus and Marseille boss.

“I watched the game against Fulham away. The manager came out and alluded to some of the referee’s decisions, but I thought, ‘You know what? The fact is, in that game, we didn’t even look like winning.’ Fulham should have scored four!” Defoe argues.

“It’s week after week; conceding too many goals and not really having a style in terms of how we play, how we’re going to affect games and score goals, or get our matchwinners to perform.”

West Ham can leapfrog Tottenham if they beat Manchester City – a tall order admittedly – and Spurs lose at Anfield.