Paul Merson predicts extremely important West Ham United vs Nottingham Forest result, shares relegation verdict
Paul Merson has predicted West Ham to record an “extremely important win” this weekend when they face Nottingham Forest at the London Stadium.
The Hammers’ unbeaten run was ended in limp style at Tottenham last week and wins for Everton and Southampton compounded the situation in a big way.
While they are now inside the relegation zone Merson doesn’t believe the club will go down and has backed them for a 2-0 victory that would make all the difference, although he wasn’t impressed with how some of the squad treated the importance of last week’s derby.
In his column for Sportskeeda Merson said: “This is a must-win game for West Ham. I don’t expect West Ham to get relegated. But it was a lackluster performance last weekend against Tottenham. It was one of their biggest games of the season and some of their players didn’t treat it like that.
“The Hammers punched above their weight last season. It’s important in this league to start well. Look at Brighton, Brentford and Fulham. West Ham haven’t started the season well and that has majorly affected their campaign.
“Nottingham Forest got dominated by Manchester City last weekend. I couldn’t believe the game ended 1-1. It could have so easily been 7-1 if City had put their chances away. I think West Ham are going to get an extremely important win this weekend.”
Time running out
It was the results elsewhere as much as the one at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium that put a worrying complexion on the Premier League table from a West Ham point of view.
David Moyes is back under the spot light now, with links to Rafael Benitez heating up after the Spaniard missed out on the Leeds United job.
David Sullivan is thought to be unimpressed with the options with which to replace the current boss, and three points at the weekend would back him up in that regard.
Whether Moyes is to be the man for the long-term will depend on the final months of the season, with it still touch and go as to whether he even makes it that far.
But his opposite number on Saturday (25 February), Steve Cooper, is an example of how quickly things can turn around in football, with the Welshman thought to be on the brink of the sack at the City Ground with his side bottom of the league earlier in the season, only to rewarded with a new contract on 7 October.
Forest are now 13th in the table and Cooper is generating some support for manager of the season contention, so faith in a coach can be repaid.
At the same time, fans will have seen the revival at Goodison Park under Sean Dyche and regarded it with envy, so if Moyes is going to come out from under this situation he could badly do with matching Merson’s prediction this weekend.