West Ham United boosted their chances of Premier League survival at the weekend after a 1-0 win against relegation rivals Southampton.
David Moyes’ side were sitting 19th in the table heading into the fixture, but Nayef Aguerd’s first-half winner secured all three points to lift the Hammers out of the relegation zone and up to 14th.
But West Ham are just one point above the drop zone and are facing a relegation battle that involves as many as nine teams heading into the final furlong of the season.
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Moyes’ men have the advantage of a game in-hand or two on those below them in the table but their next four fixtures appear tougher than some of their nearest rivals will have to face.
Newcastle United are the next visitors to the London Stadium, heading to the capital on the back of a 2-0 win against Manchester United that increased their odds of a top four finish come May.
An away trip to Fulham precedes a home fixture against Premier League leaders Arsenal and a visit to the south coast to face a Bournemouth side fighting to avoid relegation.
Everton, who drew 1-1 with Tottenham Hotspur on Monday night to climb out of the bottom three, have the toughest run of games to deal with. They also come up against three sides in the top half in Man United, Fulham and Newcastle and they also have to face Crystal Palace who currently occupy 12th spot.
The Eagles, who like West Ham increased their chances of survival with a win at the weekend, defeating relegation rivals Leicester City 2-1 at Selhurst Park, have the easiest run on paper. Two of their next four opponents are currently in the relegation zone, whereas the other two fixtures are also against sides battling to avoid the drop.
Here is a look at the current bottom nine’s next four fixtures and how they compare to the rest of the sides currently fighting to avoid relegation.
12th Crystal Palace (P29, 30 pts)
09/04 Leeds United (a) – 18th
15/04 Southampton (a) – 20th
22/04 Everton (h) – 15th
25/04 Wolverhampton Wanderers (a) – 13th
Average position of next four opponents: 16.5
13th Wolverhampton Wanderers (P29, 28 pts)
08/04 Chelsea (h) – 11th
15/04 Brentford (h) – 7th
22/04 Leicester City (a) – 19th
25/04 Crystal Palace (h) – 12th
Average position of next four opponents: 12.25
14th West Ham United (P27, 27 pts)
05/04 Newcastle United (h) – 3rd
08/04 Fulham (a) – 10th
16/04 Arsenal (h) – 1st
23/04 Bournemouth (a) – 17th
Average position of next four opponents: 7.75
15th Everton (P29, 27 pts)
08/04 Manchester United (a) – 5th
15/04 Fulham (h) – 10th
22/04 Crystal Palace (a) – 12th
27/04 Newcastle United (h) – 3rd
Average position of next four opponents: 7.5
16th Nottingham Forest (P28, 27 pts)
04/04 Leeds United (a) – 18th
08/04 Aston Villa (a) – 9th
16/04 Manchester United (h) – 5th
22/04 Liverpool (a) – 8th
Average position of next four opponents: 10
17th Bournemouth (P28, 27 pts)
04/04 Brighton (h) – 6th
08/04 Leicester City (a) – 19th
15/04 Tottenham Hotspur (a) – 4th
23/04 West Ham United (h) – 14th
Average position of next four opponents: 10.75
18th Leeds United (P28, 26 pts)
04/04 Nottingham Forest (h) – 16th
09/04 Crystal Palace (h) – 12th
17/04 Liverpool (h) – 8th
22/04 Fulham (a) – 10th
Average position of next four opponents: 11.5
19th Leicester City (P28, 25 pts)
04/04 Aston Villa (h) – 9th
08/04 Bournemouth (h) – 17th
15/04 Manchester City (a) – 2nd
22/04 Wolverhampton Wanderers (h) – 13th
Average position of next four opponents: 10.25
20th Southampton (P29, 23 pts)
04/04 Manchester City (h) – 2nd
15/04 Crystal Palace (h) – 12th
21/04 Arsenal (a) – 1st
27/04 Bournemouth (h) – 17th
Average position of next four opponents: 8
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