Championship top three team, Watford, are mounting a serious challenge for automatic promotion straight back to the Barclays Premier League, and to that purpose they will utilise the services of Domingos Quina and Jeremy Ngakia, both youth players 'filched' by the Hornets from West Ham United.
It seems as if virtually every Hammers game of late has been a 'seminal' one, right back from the astonishing fight back from a 3-0 deficit away to Tottenham that left Jose Mourinho emotionally scarred. Having 'done the double' over Marcelo Biesla's beautiful team by winning 'ugly', David Moyes's team confirmed their place as genuine contenders for a place in European competition next season, the only question being whether it will be a champions League place, or one in the Europa League.
West Ham: Fabianski, Coufal, Diop, Dawson, Cresswell, Rice (c), Soucek, Benrahma, Lingard, Fornals, Antonio Subs: Martin (GK), Trott (GK), Johnson, Balbuena, Noble, Lanzini, Odubeko
Leeds: Meslier, Ayling, Llorente, Cooper (c), Hélder Costa, Phillips, Klich, Dallas, Raphinha, Roberts, Bamford Subs: Caprile (GK), Poveda, Alioski, Rodrigo, Harrison, Davis, Beradi, Jenkins, Huggins
It is common knowledge that Leeds United's manager, Marcelo Biesla, is a stickler for his pre-planning and training specifically tailored against his team's next opponents, and apparently he has a 'cunning' plan set out in order to combat the attacking prowess of Michail Antonio, the scourge of many Barclays Premier League defenders.
Ahead of what has increasingly become an essential game against Leeds United at the London Stadium this evening, Hammers boss David Moyes shed a little light on his aspirations for this season, and the unusual scenario he and his team now face.
News that West Ham are interested in signing 6'7" striker Sasa Kalajdzic for a 'bargain' fee of around £15 Million from Stuttgart, should be greeted with a fair amount of caution. Apart from potentially being the Barclays Premier League's replacement for the much loved Peter Crouch, the 23 year old Austria international possesses very good technique in a similar way to 'Crouchy'.
Hammers lofty top four place in the Barclays Premier League was always going to be tenuous, and courtesy of some 'freak' scheduling, the Irons have been forced to look on as their 'elite' rivals make head way because the East London club have to wait until their next fixture against Leeds United on Monday the 8th of March, by which time several of their rivals will have played an astonishing THREE games more, meaning by the time David Moyes next sends out his 'troops' they could be in NINTH position before a ball is even kicked!
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The Blades, Burnley and Crystal Palace all helped West Ham's push for a top four spot by taking points of other top of the Barclays Premier League clubs. Aston Villa lost to 10 man Sheffield United, Burnley drew 1-1 with Leicester and Crystal Palace drew 1-1 with Manchester United.
Villa's unexpected loss removes their game in hand from the equation, and Leicester's dropping of two points, and even also United's loss of points might still have some bearing of the final outcome of what will be a tightly contested top four shoot out.
Conspiracy theorists who were around in 1986 might just be starting to feel a little bit of deja vu as Hammers begin their final run in of the Barclays Premier League season. For those too young to remember, or those who weren't even born then, here is a brief resume˘of what occurred.