With two games left, the relegation fight between Tottenham and West Ham is on a knife edge – and their recent form tells two very different stories.
Tottenham have somewhat steadied themselves under Roberto de Zerbi. They are four games unbeaten (W2 D2), their longest run without defeat this season, and one that reflects a side finally showing some resilience after months of turbulence.
Their last unbeaten run of five matches came in December and January, a period that seems a long time ago now.
Momentum has rarely been Spurs’ friend this year, but avoiding defeat at this stage is no small thing.
West Ham, by contrast, are sliding at the worst possible moment. Defeat at Newcastle would make it three losses on the bounce, something that has already happened twice under Nuno Espirito Santo – once in October and again in December.
When results dip, they tend to dip quickly, and the Hammers’ season has been punctuated by damaging spells that have dragged them back into trouble.
Spurs still have their fate in their own hands, while West Ham’s margin for error is shrinking fast. Over the next two defining games, survival may hinge on who holds their nerve.