After a season of turmoil, at last some light at the end of the tunnel for West Ham.
Friday’s thumping 4-0 win over Wolves – their biggest of the campaign so far – lifted West Ham out of the Premier League relegation zone, and plunged London rivals Tottenham into it.
Just three points now separate four teams in the battle to avoid the third relegation spot, with Wolves and Burnley both having been cut further adrift.
West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo insisted there was still “a lot of work to do” – but enjoyed a “big step” towards safety after Taty Castellanos and Konstantinos Mavropanos both scored twice at London Stadium.
“We are happy, extremely happy,” he told Sky Sports. “All of us deserve this kind of evening, especially our fans.
“The London Stadium today was amazing, bouncing with energy and helping us in the hard parts.”
But while West Ham fans were bouncing, Tottenham supporters watching at home were likely slumping further into their armchairs as each goal went in.
Spurs, who face Sunderland on Sunday in new boss Roberto de Zerbi’s first game in charge, are now in completely uncharted territory.
So what next?
A new low for Tottenham in Premier League era
While Spurs have flirted with the bottom three for the past two seasons – even during their run to Europa League glory 11 months ago, they finished 17th in the league – this is the first time they have actually occupied the relegation zone since 2015.
On that occasion, the league season was only one game old and Tottenham – then managed by Mauricio Pochettino – had lost their opener against Manchester United, but finished the campaign in third place.
To find the last time Spurs were in the relegation zone past the midway point of a campaign, you have to go back to February 1998 – when they sat 18th after 24 games.
But after 31 matches? That has never happened in the Premier League era. This is another new low.
What will worry Spurs fans even more is that across 31 Premier League seasons, a team occupying 18th place after 31 matches has been relegated on 21 occasions.
“When I look at the Tottenham team… where’s your match-winner? Who’s going to win you the game?” said ex-Spurs midfielder Jamie Redknapp on Sky Sports.
“When I look at Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville, they have moments – that’s the important thing.
“And that’s now put almighty pressure on Tottenham Hotspur, who have to go and beat Sunderland in their next game. That’s not an easy fixture.
“Anything can happen. There will still be twists and turns. West Ham have only got to lose their next game at Crystal Palace next week and they’re right back in it.
“It’s very difficult to predict. But you need calm heads and what West Ham did today – look a threat from set-pieces, a real threat from your best players – you give yourself a real chance.”
After their trip to the Stadium of Light, four of Tottenham’s six remaining games are against teams in the top half of the table. They still have to go to Aston Villa and Chelsea, both chasing Champions League football.
But while the stats suggest 18th position is not the place to be after 31 games, not all the data is doom and gloom for Spurs, who have only spent one season outside the top flight since 1950 – way back in 1977-78.
‘It will be smiles’ – Nuno on moving out relegation zone
Which other teams are battling for survival?
There are sure to be plenty more twists and turns in the final weeks of the season.
But, after their hard-fought and well-deserved win against Wolves, West Ham’s players can at least breathe a sigh of relief as attention turns to their relegation rivals – Leeds United, Nottingham Forest and Spurs – for the rest of the weekend.
Up first are Forest, who host Champions League-chasing Aston Villa at 14:00 BST on Sunday, after a gruelling Europa League quarter-final first leg against Porto on Thursday.
Later in the day, Spurs, as mentioned, will have to inflict just a fourth home defeat of the season on an impressive Sunderland side if they are to move out of the relegation zone at the first time of asking.
Leeds – one point and two places above West Ham – round off the weekend’s fixtures on Monday when they travel to Manchester United.
But it will not be easy against one of their fiercest rivals – Daniel Farke’s men have not won at Old Trafford in the league since 1981.
A favourable weekend of fixtures for the Hammers then?
It is little wonder West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen admitted he would be keeping a close eye on the television over the weekend.
“I’ve got three kids to entertain but I will keep an eye on the games,” added Bowen. “We have a bit of time before the game against Palace then go again.
“The spirit, the togetherness is so important in this situation. You can always have quality, but you need grit and desire and a will to win through the whole squad.
“The only thing we know as a club is to keep fighting and doing what we’re doing and take it into the next six games.”
Opta’s supercomputer still predicts that West Ham are more likely to finish in 18th than Tottenham
Edwards sticking to ‘same message’ – but was this it for Wolves?
While those above them continue to battle it out for survival, it looks almost certain that Wolves’ race is run.
Fifteen points from safety with just 18 points left to play for, their relegation could be confirmed as early as next Saturday if results go against them.
They have been made to pay for a dreadful first half of the season, failing to win any of their opening 19 games and picking up just three points in the process.
Defender Ladislav Krejci apologised to the fans after their defeat at London Stadium – “not just for this game but the situation in the table”.
But manager Rob Edwards would not be drawn on whether it was a result that killed any remaining hope.
“For us it is the same message,” he told Sky Sports. “We have to try to finish strong, respect every game and go for it.
“We are all under the microscope and we have to make sure we perform.”-BBC
