Michael Dawson amazed by West Ham developments as Nottingham Forest fears raised – ‘Oh my word’
West Ham’s great Premier League survival escape is well and truly on.
In a vital relegation six-pointer at Turf Moor on Saturday, West Ham beat Burnley 2-0 to close the gap to Nottingham Forest to just three points.
Crysencio Summerville became West Ham’s first player to score in five straight games when he opened the scoring after 13 minutes, followed by Taty Castellanos‘ first Hammers goal on 26 minutes.
Burnley were predicted to beat West Ham on Saturday, despite the fact that Nuno Espirito Santo‘s side had won two of their last three Premier League games coming into this weekend’s clash
Michael Dawson stunned by West Ham/Forest fortune change
However, it was only on 6 January that West Ham lost 2-1 to Nottingham Forest at the London Stadium, which was the Hammers’ 10th game without a win at the time.
But ever since then, West Ham have looked like a totally different team, and the decision to stick by Nuno looks an inspired one too, as he’s undoubtedly found a way to galvanise this group of players.
West Ham welcome in-form Manchester United to E20 on Tuesday night, and Nuno’s side will go into it full of confidence that they can record another huge win.
Nottingham Forest, on the other hand, are now winless in their last two league games, with a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace on 1 February followed up by a 3-1 defeat to Leeds on Friday night.
And, speaking to Sky Sports News following Saturday’s games, pundit Michael Dawson said he can’t quite believe the respective turnaround in fortunes between both West Ham and Forest.
“Oh my word. It wasn’t long ago I watched West Ham lose to Forest and go seven points behind,” Dawson said.
“West Ham had won three games at that point; now they’re three points behind and play first on Tuesday. They could be level on points, so the pressure is heating up on Forest.”
Nuno deserves so much credit for subtle tactical tweak
Throughout the majority of this season, Nuno had largely set his team up in a 4-2-3-1 system, but it simply wasn’t getting the performances or results.
However, some managers are stubborn folk, and are prepared to die on their formation hills, bound by their unwavering belief in a set style of play.
Nuno has proven he’s not one of those coaches, as in the last four games, he’s made a subtle-yet noticeable change to a 4-4-1-1 formation, with either Pablo or Callum Wilson playing behind Castellanos.
West Ham have won three of those matches, with their only defeat coming in an added-time heartbreaker to Chelsea on 31 January.
Nuno should be giving himself a huge pat on the back as such, as he’s rather unthinkably given the previous heat he was under, turning doubters into believers again.