West Ham United could go into a trio of season-defining matches against Burnley, Hull City and Swansea City right in the relegation mix.
Under pressure: West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic
Getting to 40 points is usually considered sufficient to secure Premier League safety – even if the Hammers do hold an unwanted record of being relegated on 42 points.
Slaven Bilic’s side currently have 11, a point per game so far, after a torrid start to the Croatian’s second season in charge of the East Londoners.
They also have the fourth worst goal difference in the top flight with -9.
Bilic faces a hellish fixture list in the next month
And neither of those tallies look like improving much over the next month with a hellish fixture list looming.
Bilic’s side travel to White Hart Lane to face undefeated rivals Tottenham Hotspur after the international break before a double header against Manchester United in the league and EFL Cup – both at Old Trafford – a home game against title hopefuls Arsenal and daunting trip to Anfield to face Liverpool.
Given the way West Ham have started the season – they sit in 17th place just one point and place above the bottom three – there is little to suggest they will get much change out of that set of fixtures.
West Ham hero Dimitri Payet looks dejected
So Bilic is facing the very real possibility of going into the Christmas programme very much in the relegation mix.
Should those matches go true to form, the club’s already poor goal difference could take a hammering too.
Historically West Ham have always raised their game against better opposition.
But if they fail to do that this season confidence could be on the floor by the time Bilic’s side face three potentially season-defining matches against Burnley and Hull at home after the Liverpool game before a trip to fellow strugglers Swansea.
All three of those sides have – on paper at least – an easier clutch of fixtures coming up.
Trouble ahead for Bilic?
The Hammers have been insipid and uninspiring against Everton and Stoke City since their recent mini-revival and fans are growing restless.
Wins from that crucial trio of games would leave West Ham on 20 points going into the halfway stage, the minimum Bilic will want to keep on course to avoid the dreaded drop.
Anything in between would be a bonus.
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