At the end of last season Aston Villa managed to survive relegation by the skin of their teeth, their cause helped in no small measure by West Ham beating all the Villain's fellow relegation strugglers.
David Moyes's managerial contract was always up for 'review' at the end of the season, and nothing has changed in that respect. It is common knowledge that was a clause added to his contract on his return to the London Stadium which was 'place dependent', essentially if the club finished eighth or above he would have to be offered a one year extension to his tenure.
Surprise, surprise, Fabian Balbueana's red card has been rescinded, all a bit too late now isn't it? OK the game might have been beyond the Irons with ten minutes left and a goal down against Chelsea, but going down to ten men and losing a defender who is very handy in the air didn't help matters!
The 29-year-old Paraguay international received a straight red card in the 81st minute for a 'foul' on Ben Chilwell that would have required the amputation of the 'General's' leg to avoid. David Moyes said the original decision had been made by someone "who's never played the game".
The 'wheels of hope' are in full swing as 'positive' news is emerging as to the fitness and availability for players who have been sorely missed in recent games that have seen Hammers push for Europe falter. Aaron Cresswell and Authur Masuaku are looking nailed on for the next crucial game, against Burnley on the 1st of May, the Clarets having just dismantled Wolves by 4-0 at Molineaux.
West Ham: Fabiański, Diop, Balbuena, Ogbonna, Coufal, Noble (c), Souček, Fredericks, Fornals, Lingard, Bowen Subs: Randolph (GK), Trott (GK), Johnson, Alves, Coventry, Lanzini, Benrahma, Yarmolenko, Odubeko
Chelsea: Mendy, Rüdiger, Silva, Christensen, Azpilicueta (c), Kanté, Jorginho, Chilwell, Mount, Pulisic, Werner Subs: Arrizabalaga (GK), Alonso, Zouma, James, Gilmour, Hudson-Odoi, Havertz, Ziyech, Abraham
Hammers face up to Chelsea on Saturday for a game that could have far-reaching implications for both clubs, Champions League qualification is the holy grail awaiting the winners of the tie, defeat might condemn the losers to 'Europa League' ignominy.
One player who seems destined not to be part of the proceedings is Tammy Abraham, the Chelsea striker has been 'frozen out' of their first team since the arrival of Thomas Tuchel as manager. Tuchel has made it clear that Abraham does not feature in his plans, leaving the 23 year old striker in 'no man's land'.
Having nearly reached the summit with his team, Hammers manager David Moyes has reached an injury impasse that even he, a manager with nearly 1000 games under his belt, is surely going to find incredibly difficult, if not impossible, to deal with.
Tomas Soucek, along with several of his team mates, is suffering from the exertions of having to cover for missing players, and the 'high energy team' that blew teams away has lost it's energy co-efficient from the level it had attained.
Said Benrahma has played so few minutes compared to the other players, when Jesse Lingard arrived his 'pent up energy' exploded because David Moyes unleashed Lingard's inner player, so why doesn't the vastly experienced West Ham manager utilise such an asset that he has at his disposal when his team is down to the bare bones?
Was the timing of the 'Euro Soccer League' announcement an example of the type of 'cunning stunts' that will be running the 'top boy's club'? We are sure the analogy will not be lost by most viewers, particularly those of a certain age who watched TV comedies in the early nineties, 'cunning stunt' was a play on words that 'kinda lingers'.