Stuart Pearce backs West Ham to secure survival and relegate Tottenham
Former West Ham coach Stuart Pearce believes the club can still secure Premier League survival and relegate London rivals Tottenham on the final day of the season.
Pearce insists his old employers remain firmly in the mix to avoid the drop despite a narrow defeat to Arsenal on Sunday.
Spurs failed to capitalise on that result after being held to a draw by Leeds United on Monday evening.
The gap between the two capital clubs currently stands at just two points.
Final day drama looms
The Hammers must navigate a trip to Newcastle United this weekend before concluding their campaign against Leeds.
Meanwhile, the North Londoners face a tough test against Chelsea ahead of a decisive final-day clash with Everton.
Pearce suggested that Everton manager David Moyes could inadvertently save his former club by securing a positive result against Spurs.
“West Ham have got to win both games and keep their fingers crossed that other things help them,” Pearce stated.
Capitalising on home struggles
“But West Ham and Spurs are back in the mix.”
A poor start to the campaign has proved incredibly costly for the East London outfit.
However, their bitter rivals are in a precarious position due to a disastrous run of form at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The Lilywhites have yet to register a home league victory in this calendar year.
Relying on key figures
Conversely, the Toffees have proven to be a resilient force on their travels.
Despite historic grumbles regarding the atmosphere at the London Stadium, Pearce knows the supporters will rally if the team delivers.
“When the fans have something to shout about, that place gets going,” the 62-year-old noted.
The former England international highlighted Jarrod Bowen and Tomas Soucek as crucial figures in the looming relegation scrap.
Both midfielders were brought to the club during Moyes’ tenure and have consistently demonstrated their immense work ethic.
“Those two have got work ethic, they’ve got the club at heart,” Pearce concluded.