West Ham and Man City to Battle for Needed Points | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City travel to the London Stadium to take on relegation-battling West Ham in the latest round of the Premier League this weekend.

No Time for Niceties

The relationship between City and West Ham fans is a somewhat peculiar one in the context of English football, where respect is seldom shared between fanbases. There has long been an element of friendship between the two sets of supporters.

Historically, although of course no longer the case with City, both teams have spent much of their existence in the shadow of more successful rivals. For a long time both clubs were known largely due to their loyal fanbases, rather than their exploits on the pitch during trophyless decades, leading to the formation of a mutual respect.

The relationship has been dated back to a particular match in 1987. City found themselves relegated after defeat to West Ham at the old Boleyn Ground. Instead of taking the opportunity to mock the misfortune of their opposition, the Hammers’ fans expressed their commiserations to the travelling supporters, with both applauding and shaking hands with each other.

This gave birth to a somewhat unlikely friendship that has endured ever since. However, given the current situation of both clubs, there will be no time for niceties at the London Stadium on Saturday night.

West Ham’s Battle for Survival

West Ham enter the weekend still placed precariously inside the bottom three. However a resurgence in recent weeks from the Hammers has seen them swallow up the gap to those above them. Nottingham Forest are now ahead only through goal difference, with Tottenham Hotspur just one point above them, and Leeds United only three points away.

The Premier League now has a bona fide relegation battle on its hands for the first time in three years, which looks set to go all the way to the final day. It means that for those involved, every point available could prove absolutely crucial and Nuno Espírito Santo will be acutely aware of that.

Five new recruits, including Taty Castellanos and Adama Traoré, came through the door at the London Stadium in January, and they have certainly rejuvenated a squad that looked devoid of ideas before then. Since mid-January, West Ham have lost just two matches – away to Chelsea and Liverpool. Nuno has certainly got his side firing and Saturday’s clash is anything but a foregone conclusion.

City’s Chase Continues

Conversely, at the other end of the table points remain just as critical. “We’re desperate too,” insisted Guardiola ahead of the match when West Ham’s situation was put to him.

Following a disappointing draw at home to Forest, one of West Ham’s fellow relegation candidates, last time out, the title is no longer in City’s hands.

Guardiola’s side are now seven points adrift of league leaders Arsenal. However, with a game in hand and Mikel Arteta’s side still due to visit the Etihad, City’s title aspirations are not yet dead in the water.

The same cannot be said for their hopes in the Champions League. The Blues lost 3-0 in the first leg of their last 16 tie against Real Madrid on Wednesday night. They now have a mammoth task ahead of them if they are to advance in Europe next Tuesday. With the Carabao Cup final also on the horizon next weekend, this will be an absolutely pivotal week in City’s campaign.

Guardiola needs his men to bounce back against West Ham. Fail to do so and it could be a fatal blow to their title challenge. “The Premier League always, I believe, is the most difficult one,” said the Catalan. “Still we are there, knowing that if we drop points, it will be over.”