AdminNewcastle United welcome West Ham to St James’ Park on Sunday with the relegation battle entering a decisive stage, while Tottenham Hotspur must once again wait before having the chance to respond when they take on Chelsea two days later.
Whether it is an advantage to play first or second at this point remains difficult to judge in what has become a straight shoot-out between Spurs and the Hammers for the final relegation place.
There is little doubt Roberto De Zerbi and his squad tuned in to watch West Ham’s controversial defeat against Arsenal last weekend, a match overshadowed by yet another VAR storm involving referee Chris Kavanagh.
However, Tottenham hardly looked like a side inspired by events elsewhere when they faced Leeds United on Monday evening.
Although the contest ended 1-1 and Spurs made the stronger start, by the closing stages they were clinging on desperately.
Much of the post-match discussion focused on James Maddison’s rejected penalty appeal, but that overshadowed the bigger picture. Daniel Farke’s Leeds side struck the woodwork twice in the second half and were comfortably the better team after the interval.
West Ham, unfortunately, are once again relying on favours from elsewhere, this time from Chelsea, who still appear no better despite the dismissal of Liam Rosenior.
Tottenham suddenly look nervous and increasingly fragile. De Zerbi, too, has appeared unusually irritable in recent days, particularly when discussing the fallout from the Arsenal controversy, where his comments hinted at growing frustration and suspicion.
Still, this weekend offers West Ham an opportunity. Victory at Newcastle would temporarily lift the Hammers out of the bottom three and heap serious pressure on Tottenham before their meeting with Chelsea.
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