Tottenham have given their survival chances a huge boost as they bid to avoid the unthinkable: relegation from the Premier League.
Demotion to the second tier for a Spurs side that won the Europa League last season, reached the Champions League knockout stage this term and has spent just one season outside the top flight since 1950 would go down as one of the biggest shocks in Premier League history. Roberto De Zerbi is now the man tasked with engineering an escape, and three points against Aston Villa last weekend lifted them into 17th.
West Ham’s defeat to Brentford had opened the door as Nuno Espirito Santo’s side slip back into the bottom three and now with their fate out of their hands. Leeds pulled clear after an impressive recent run, while Nottingham Forest won back-to-back games at Sunderland and Chelsea to bolster their hopes.
Wolves have long been destined for the drop and had their demotion confirmed last Monday. They have now been joined by Burnley after the Clarets fell to a 1-0 loss at home to Manchester City to confirm their return to the Championship.
With Wolves and Burnley both relegated, here’s how the rest of the crucial relegation run-in is shaping up.
Nottingham Forest
Position: 16th | Played: 35 | Points: 42 | GD: -2
Remaining fixtures:
- 9 May – Newcastle (H)
- 17 May – Manchester United (A)
- 24 May – Bournemouth (H)
Where to pick up points? After four wins in five games, a home game against a struggling Newcastle side who have nothing to play could confirm Forest’s Premier League status.
Tricky contests? Ideally, they’d like to get it done before visiting Manchester United and then hosting a Bournemouth side who may be pushing for Champions League qualification on the final day of the season.
Tottenham Hotspur
Position: 17th | Played: 35 | Points: 37 | GD: -9
Remaining fixtures:
- 9 May – Leeds (H)
- 17 May – Chelsea (A)
- 24 May – Everton (H)
Where to pick up points? A potentially pivotal clash with Leeds at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Monday night three matches from the end of the campaign will be a golden opportunity for Tottenham after escaping the bottom three.
West Ham United
Position: 18th | Played: 34 | Points: 36 | GD: -19
Remaining fixtures:
- 9 May – Arsenal (H)
- 17 May – Newcastle (A)
- 24 May – Leeds (H)
Tricky contests? A heavy defeat to Brentford may not have been totally deserved for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side, yet is nonetheless ill-timed and highly-damaging. Now the visit of title-chasing Arsenal is unwelcome, too.
Final straight? If West Ham can get something from the Arsenal game then a trip against Newcastle and a home clash with Leeds to finish the season might just be the ticket to get them clear of the drop zone.
Verdict?
This could genuinely go in any direction and you’d have to be a brave person to predict the outcome with any confidence. It could still all come down to the final day when West Ham host Leeds, Spurs play Everton and Nottingham Forest host Bournemouth.
Forest’s recent results have been massive, given that they could have been adversely affected by their Europa League run and probably need to have survival wrapped up going into the final couple of games.
Spurs have their survival hopes in their hands, if they can build on victories at Wolves and Aston Villa and win a Premier League game at home for the first time since December. But every team is showing fight – and it could all change quickly.
