{"id":7132,"date":"2026-05-11T08:52:47","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T08:52:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=7132"},"modified":"2026-05-11T08:52:47","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T08:52:47","slug":"the-minor-spurs-miracle-west-ham-now-need-to-stay-in-the-premier-league","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=7132","title":{"rendered":"The minor Spurs miracle West Ham now need to stay in the Premier League"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"post-316111\">\n<div class=\"article-follow\">\n<div class=\"article-sharing google-follow\">  <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"28\" height=\"28\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hammers.news\/wp-content\/themes\/grv-media\/img\/google-discover.svg\" alt=\"\"\/> <span>Add as preferred source on Google<\/span>  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>West Ham have been written off by all and sundry in the relegation shootout with Tottenham Hotspur \u2013 but there is still a faint hope of survival.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Hammers have suffered back-to-back London derby defeats to Brentford and Arsenal to leave them staring at relegation to the Championship, much to the delight of Spurs.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-grvmedia-grv-video GRVMultiVideo\"\/>\n<p>Just a couple of weeks ago West Ham had closed a 13-point gap on Tottenham to climb above them and out of the drop zone.<\/p>\n<p>Spurs were favourites for the drop having not won a game all year.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-spurs-miracle-west-ham-need-to-stay-up-is-improbable-but-not-impossible\">Spurs miracle West Ham need to stay up is improbable but not impossible<\/h2>\n<p>The arrival of Roberto De Zerbi and no shortage of good fortune has seen Tottenham turn the survival battle with the Hammers on its head.<\/p>\n<p>The Italian has won two and drawn one of his first four games in charge, putting Spurs one point ahead of West Ham with a game in hand.<\/p>\n<section class=\"grv-talking-point\" data-trigger=\"vue-sidebar\" data-story-id=\"981680cd-a99e-413e-9b94-0a1b72bf9055\" data-story-name=\"West Ham board\" data-comment-id=\"fde046b5-d163-410f-a21a-7c0f73d80804\" data-story-slug=\"west-ham-board\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__inner\">\n<header class=\"grv-talking-point__header\">  <\/header>\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__content\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__cta\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__title-wrap\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__title-content\">\n<h3 class=\"grv-talking-point__title\">How worried should West Ham be about SUCCESSIVE relegations? \ud83d\udcc9<\/h3>\n<p class=\"grv-talking-point__subtitle\">Sunderland and Leicester went from the Prem to League One in 12 months\u2026<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__embed\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 991px) 100vw, 800px\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/Charlie-Stebbings-quotes-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"West Ham United fans hold up No More BS Just resign flags featuring caricatures of Karren Brady and David Sullivan as they protest against the ownership during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United at Molineux on January 03, 2026 in Wolverhampton, England.\" class=\"wp-image-315779\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/Charlie-Stebbings-quotes-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/Charlie-Stebbings-quotes-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/Charlie-Stebbings-quotes-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/Charlie-Stebbings-quotes-912x1140.jpg 912w, https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/Charlie-Stebbings-quotes-600x750.jpg 600w, https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/Charlie-Stebbings-quotes.jpg 1080w\"\/><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>While highly improbable, it is not impossible for Nuno Espirito Santo\u2019s side to stay up at Tottenham\u2019s expense.<\/p>\n<p>But results mean West Ham now need a minor Spurs miracle to stay in the Premier League.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"669\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 991px) 100vw, 800px\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2275480133-1024x669.jpg\" alt=\"West Ham United v Arsenal - Premier League\" class=\"wp-image-315944\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2275480133-1024x669.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2275480133-300x196.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2275480133-768x502.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2275480133-1536x1004.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2275480133-1140x745.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2275480133-750x490.jpg 750w\"\/><\/div><figcaption title=\"LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 10: Mateus Fernandes of West Ham United reacts after missing a chance during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Arsenal at London Stadium on May 10, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling\/Getty Images)\">Photo by Alex Pantling\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Here\u2019s what needs to happen for the Hammers to stay up.<\/p>\n<p>Tottenham welcome Leeds to north London on Monday night.<\/p>\n<p>West Ham may have put one of the final nails in their own coffin ahead of that game because their defeat to Arsenal has officially made Leeds safe.<\/p>\n<p>The Hammers will be hoping Leeds aren\u2019t on the beach for the trip to Spurs because they need the Elland Road outfit to hold the hosts to at least a draw.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-hammers-can-still-survive-with-a-win-and-a-draw-in-final-two\">How Hammers can still survive with a win and a draw in final two<\/h2>\n<p>A defeat for Tottenham is obviously the ideal scenario for West Ham.<\/p>\n<p>But a draw would still give the Hammers hope heading into the last two games.<\/p>\n<section class=\"grv-talking-point\" data-trigger=\"vue-sidebar\" data-story-id=\"0b817c36-4718-4fd0-9d08-117ec4b38b55\" data-story-name=\"Freddie Potts\" data-comment-id=\"58a05fb7-db1d-4533-af0a-6e640d759b5b\" data-story-slug=\"freddie-potts\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__inner\">\n<header class=\"grv-talking-point__header\">  <\/header>\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__content\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__cta\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__title-wrap\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__title-content\">\n<h3 class=\"grv-talking-point__title\">What sort of role should Potts and Magassa play next season?<\/h3>\n<p class=\"grv-talking-point__subtitle\">Do you still have faith in the young duo?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__embed\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 991px) 100vw, 800px\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/Potts-and-Magassa-vote-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"West Ham United's French midfielder #27 Soungoutou Magassa (L) leaves the pitch after being substituted off for West Ham United's English midfielder #32 Freddie Potts during the English Premier League football match between Everton and West Ham United at Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool, north west England on September 29, 2025.\" class=\"wp-image-315856\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/Potts-and-Magassa-vote-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/Potts-and-Magassa-vote-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/Potts-and-Magassa-vote-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/Potts-and-Magassa-vote-912x1140.jpg 912w, https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/Potts-and-Magassa-vote-600x750.jpg 600w, https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/Potts-and-Magassa-vote.jpg 1080w\"\/><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>Should Spurs fail to beat Leeds, West Ham would then know that a win at Newcastle next Sunday would lift them out of the relegation zone above De Zerbi\u2019s side.<\/p>\n<p>That would pile pressure on Tottenham ahead of their own difficult trip to face fierce rivals Chelsea, where they have a woeful record, on the Tuesday.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 991px) 100vw, 800px\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2275471278-1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Nuno Espirito Santo, Manager of West Ham United, reacts during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Arsenal at London Stadium\" class=\"wp-image-316000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2275471278-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2275471278-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2275471278-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2275471278-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2275471278-1-1140x760.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/cdn1.hammers.news\/uploads\/25\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2275471278-1-750x500.jpg 750w\"\/><\/div><figcaption title=\"LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 10: Nuno Espirito Santo, Manager of West Ham United, reacts during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Arsenal at London Stadium on May 10, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield\/Getty Images)\">Photo by Justin Setterfield\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>If Spurs lose to Leeds, then even a draw at Chelsea would not be enough to lift them back above the Hammers should they emerge victorious at St James\u2019 Park.<\/p>\n<p>Two draws for Spurs would give them the advantage as they have a vastly superior goal difference.<\/p>\n<p>If Spurs only pick up one point from Leeds and Chelsea and West Ham beat the Magpies, it will be Nuno\u2019s side in control of their own destiny heading into the final day.<\/p>\n<p>The Hammers host a Leeds side with little but pride to play for at the London Stadium while Tottenham welcome European-chasing Everton to north London.<\/p>\n<p>It is not unthinkable that David Moyes\u2019 Toffees could turn Tottenham over or at least hold them to a draw.<\/p>\n<p>So if West Ham can beat Leeds to reach 42 points then that could make them safe.<\/p>\n<p>If Spurs draw two and lose one of their last three matches and West Ham pick up at least one win and one draw from their final two then the Hammers would survive.<\/p>\n<p>It may look all but done but so much rides on Tottenham\u2019s clash with Leeds.<\/p>\n<p>There is of course a flip side to all of this that could see West Ham relegated at Newcastle.<\/p>\n<p>If Spurs beat Leeds and West Ham lose to Eddie Howe\u2019s side then it is done.<\/p>\n<p>Now all eyes turn to Leeds and whether they can do the Hammers the biggest of favours.<\/p>\n<div class=\"see-more-wrapper lazy see-more-open see-more-blank extra-content\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.hammers.news\/news\/the-minor-spurs-miracle-west-ham-now-need-to-stay-in-the-premier-league\/none\" data-type=\"subscribe\">\n<div class=\"see-more subscribe\">\n<figure class=\"newsletter\">\n<div><svg class=\"loading\" width=\"118\" height=\"36\" viewbox=\"0 0 118 36\"><use href=\"#dots-svg\"\/><\/svg><\/p>\n<div class=\"signup\"><span class=\"hf\">Join Our Newsletter<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p><script>grvLoadAnalytics = () => {(function(d,s,i){var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)(0),j=d.createElement(s);j.async=true;j.src=\"https:\/\/www.googletagmanager.com\/gtag\/js?id=\"+i;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(document,'script','G-YXV2JYYXJC');(function(d,s,i){if(!\/callback=in\/.test(window.location.search)){var e=d.createElement(s);var n=d.getElementsByTagName(s)(0);e.type=\"text\/javascript\";e.async=true;e.src=\"https:\/\/static.chartbeat.com\/js\/chartbeat.js\";n.parentNode.insertBefore(e,n);}})(document,\"script\",\"G-YXV2JYYXJC\");(function(){let s=document.createElement(\"script\");s.async=true;s.dataset.domain=\"hammers.news\/9EBwb0\";s.src=\"https:\/\/api.publytics.net\/js\/script.manual.ping.min.js\";document.getElementsByTagName(\"head\")(0).appendChild(s);})();if(!\/callback=in\/.test(window.location.search)){setTimeout(function(){!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';n.queue=();t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)(0);s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window,document,'script','https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');fbq('init','1190605555050698');fbq('track','PageView');fbq('track','ViewContent',{content_name:'The minor Spurs miracle West Ham now need to stay in the Premier League',content_category:'News',content_ids:(316111,\"nuno-espirito-santo\",\"premier-league\",\"roberto-de-zerbi\"),content_type:'post',});},3000);}}<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Add as preferred source on Google West Ham have been written off by all and&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7133,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7132","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chelsea"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7132","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7132"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7132\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7133"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7132"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7132"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7132"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}