Recent Key Goals from Bowen, Simons, and Gibbs-White
West Ham's Jarrod Bowen, Tottenham's Xavi Simons, and Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White have all contributed crucial goals for their teams in recent fixtures.
From disappointment on Saturday evening to some relief on Monday, Tottenham fans have endured a challenging season. After their side conceded a late equaliser at home against Brighton, they found some solace in West Ham's inability to capitalize fully during their draw at Crystal Palace.
West Ham's draw at Selhurst Park means the standings remain largely unchanged, with Spurs still two points from safety as they strive to avoid their first top-flight relegation since 1977.
"It will go all the way, for sure. Not only at the bottom of the table but at the top," West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo told BBC Match of the Day. "This season has been very tight. We don't make points, we play games. We have a mission ahead and keep going."
Leeds United and Nottingham Forest emerged as the significant beneficiaries in the latest round of fixtures, both securing substantial home victories that moved them eight and five points clear of the relegation zone, respectively.
For Daniel Farke's Leeds side, this may be sufficient to eventually remove themselves from relegation concerns. However, with Wolves already relegated and Burnley expected to follow, all four teams involved still face considerable challenges in the coming weeks.
Form Analysis
"We need to find a solution to win games," said Tottenham boss Roberto de Zerbi.
Following their draw with Brighton on Saturday, Tottenham manager Roberto de Zerbi expressed confidence in his squad's ability to remain in the Premier League, stating they are "able to win five games in a row" to conclude the season.
Despite De Zerbi's optimism, the season's evidence does not suggest Spurs are capable of such a winning streak. Tottenham have not won any of their past 15 league matches, remaining without a top-flight victory in 2026 and having secured only two wins since 26 October.
The team must defeat bottom-placed Wolves on Saturday to avoid equalling the club's worst-ever winless league run, a record set between 1934 and 1935.
Conversely, the form of Spurs' relegation rivals has improved. Leeds have won consecutive matches, moving close to safety; Nottingham Forest have two wins in their last three games and remain unbeaten in five; West Ham have won two of their last five matches.
Looking at a broader timeframe, West Ham have accumulated 19 points from their last 12 games, Forest 18 points from 13, and Leeds 18 from 14. Since their victory over Crystal Palace on 28 December, Spurs have earned only six points from 15 matches.
The Remaining Fixtures
"It will go all the way," Nuno said regarding the relegation battle after West Ham's draw with Palace.
While the common saying when fixtures are announced is "it doesn't matter, you play everyone twice," the timing of matches can significantly impact a team's campaign.
With five games remaining, Tottenham will view their schedule as offering opportunities to secure survival. Their next match is an away game against Wolves, who have already been relegated and are preparing for Championship football.
A home fixture against Leeds on 11 May is another chance to gain points, especially if Leeds have secured safety by then with a win over Burnley at Elland Road.
An away match at Aston Villa on 3 May, a team competing for a Champions League spot, comes at a potentially advantageous time for Spurs, as it falls between the two legs of the Europa League semi-final involving Villa.
Spurs will then face rivals Chelsea away before concluding the season hosting Everton. Both Chelsea and Everton are likely to be competing for European qualification, making these fixtures challenging.
West Ham's remaining matches include a home game against Everton, an away trip to Brentford, and a tough home fixture against title-contending Arsenal on 10 May. Their penultimate game is away at Newcastle, a team having a disappointing season but still a difficult opponent, followed by a home match against Leeds on the final day, which could be decisive.
Nottingham Forest arguably face the most demanding final five fixtures, with away games at Chelsea and Manchester United in May. The Chelsea match occurs just three days before the second leg of their Europa League semi-final against Aston Villa. They also have home matches against Newcastle and Bournemouth, with the latter on the last day. Securing a result at Sunderland on Friday would significantly ease pressure on Vitor Pereira's squad ahead of the run-in.
Statistical Overview
It has been 49 years since Tottenham found themselves in the relegation zone after 33 league games; in the 1976-77 season, they were unable to avoid relegation.
Tottenham's home record this season is poor, with only two league wins, worseed only by Sheffield Wednesday, who have the worst home record in the English football league this term.
Further statistics are concerning for Spurs: only Derby County in 2007-08 and Sunderland in 2002-03 had longer winless runs to start a calendar year than Spurs' current streak of 15 matches, and both clubs were relegated that season.
Leeds and Nottingham Forest can take some reassurance from historical data indicating that 36 points have been sufficient to avoid relegation in every Premier League season since 2015-16.
More encouragingly for Leeds, only six teams have been relegated with 39 points or more in a 38-game season, and none in the past 14 seasons since Birmingham and Blackpool were relegated with 39 points.
This season may reinforce the traditional benchmark of 40 points needed for safety, but West Ham are aware that even that total may not guarantee survival. The Hammers hold the record for the most points accumulated by a relegated side, having earned 42 points in the 2002-03 season yet still being relegated.
Expert Opinions
"Leeds are safe on 39 points, I think that's enough," former West Ham striker Dean Ashton told Sky Sports. "It is such a tough task with so few games for Tottenham to gather that many points under such pressure. I think Tottenham are going down, I don't see the character or mindset in them to get out of it."
Ex-Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher also predicts Tottenham's relegation. "I see West Ham beating Brentford and Leeds and staying up at the expense of Tottenham," he said. "Survival is the priority for Nottingham Forest. But they have to go full steam in Europe because they are in a semi-final. If I am the manager of Nottingham Forest, why not go all in on their next game [at Sunderland] and if they win that, they will be on 39 points and pretty much there."
Fan Perspectives
Harry, Manchester: "To me Leeds are no longer in the conversation. Forest are hitting form at the right time too. It's got to be between Spurs and West Ham. And honestly, I'm not seeing this 'fight' we'd usually see from relegation candidates in Spurs. West Ham look motivated, so I'm saying Spurs."
Martin, North Yorkshire: "Tottenham most likely to get relegated, but West Ham's poor goal difference could still prove to be a factor."
Dougal, Liverpool: "West Ham has the trickier run-in, but the benefit of momentum. De Zerbi is having an impact, but is it too late? I think so."
Ron, Stoke: "Morgan Gibbs-White and Jarrod Bowen are key to Forest and Hammers staying up but there no one obvious is stepping up at Spurs so for me they join Burnley and Wolves."
Tyler, London: "Tottenham are at the disadvantage with practically no momentum! As a West Ham fan, I'd like to say we're going to stay up. Forest are still in it but with those four points ahead it's looking good for them."
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