Monday evening’s gritty goalless draw at Crystal Palace earned West Ham United another precious point in their quest to avoid the dreaded drop.
While weekend victories for Leeds United and Nottingham Forest had sent both sides closer to safety, Tottenham Hotspur’s draw with Brighton & Hove Albion ensured that survival still remains in the Hammers hands with just five matches left to play.
“We know that it’s going to be a fight until the end,” contended Nuno Espírito Santo whose team remain in 17th-spot, two points above his former club, Spurs. “It is very tight and every day is important. Tonight wasn’t the perfect game for us but we were organised, we fought hard and were committed.
“It was a very tough match just as it always is when you come to here because Palace are a very good team with a very good shape which has given them success over the past couple of years.”
Goal chances were certainly few and far between in a Selhurst Park stalemate that saw Brennan Johnson send two first-half efforts flashing inches wide, while Taty Castellanos had an acrobatic overhead kick blocked on the line by Maxence Lacroix.
Just before the interval, Dean Henderson produced the save of the match when his one-handed stop prevented Konstantinos Mavropanos from heading the unchanged Hammers ahead but that was the closest the visitors would come to breaking the derby deadlock.
“In the first half we were organised compact and created some problems but our combinations didn’t quite click in the final third,” conceded Nuno.
“With their back-five, Palace defended very well, it was hard to find any gaps and you have to give them credit. Their goalkeeper also made an incredible save but we needed to be better and to find our final shot.”
Having just reached the UEFA Europa Conference League semi-finals, the Eagles had made four changes following Thursday night’s trip to Fiorentina but – on the hour – the triple-introduction of Jean-Philippe Mateta, Ismaila Sarr and Daichi Kamada increased home momentum.
On 83 minutes, Sarr thought he had broken the deadlock only for his effort to be ruled out for handball against Mateta a split-second earlier.
“We’ve been good defensively and to get a clean sheet at Crystal Palace gives us confidence,” continued a relieved Nuno after surviving that late scare. “Tonight, we showed that we don’t give up and are committed. We had spirit and they are the basics that you need to keep battling.
“There is always pressure in every game, especially with the need that we have right now but the players are aware of our situation. They’re giving it their all so I am positive about things.”
Next-up, Everton - managed by former Hammers boss David Moyes – visit London Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).
“We are always looking for improvement,” concluded Nuno. “We always want to get the best from our players so let’s all prepare well and be ready for Saturday.”
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