Tottenham handed fresh hope in Premier League relegation battle as Nuno Espirito Santo issues warning | OneFootball

Six points separates Leeds in 15th to Tottenham in 18th as Premier League relegation battle heats up

Nuno Espirito Santo has said the Premier League relegation battle is not a two-horse race between West Ham and Tottenham.

With Wolves and Burnley already confirmed to be going down, one final relegation spot remains as the battle to avoid the drop reaches a pivotal stage.

Nottingham Forest and Leeds have pulled away from the bottom three in weeks, leaving the Hammers and Spurs either side of the dreaded dotted line.

“I see it as an overall picture,” Nuno said in the pre-Brentford press conference. “I think nothing in the table is decided, no matter where you are or what we are fighting.

“This year is so tight in all the positions that everything is going to be to the final moment.

“In all the aspects of the table, it’s going to go to the last one, for sure.”

Joao Palhinha scored Tottenham’s winner against Wolves last week

PA

A quirk in the fixture schedule means West Ham will play before Spurs in each of the next three rounds of matches.

While Tottenham will face Europa League semi-finalists Aston Villa away from home on Sunday already knowing how West Ham got on 24 hours earlier, Nuno does not see that a disadvantage.

“Look, I don’t consider it like that,” he added. “We try to isolate from that aspect.

“If we play after, before, at the same time, it’s up to us. What we try to do is shield our players, our team, inside their task in the pit. Because you cannot control what’s going on outside.

This year is so tight in all the positions that everything is going to be to the final moment

Nuno Espirito Santo

Nevertheless, Nuno will watch the Spurs game on Sunday and says his players can do the same.

“Everyone is free to do whatever they want,” he said. “Me? For sure, I’m going to watch the game. Some players will watch the game.

“But we cannot get away from it. The priority, believe me, is what you do. It’s what we do.”