Highlights: Forest and Wolves stalemate in relegation battle
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Pereira becomes the fourth player to take charge at the City Ground this season, following Nuno, Ange Postecoglou and Dysch.
It also marks an early return to the Premier League for Pereira after he was sacked as Wolves’ head coach at the start of the season.
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‘Trigger-happy’ Forrest ‘panicked’ after Dyche’s firing, Keown and Crouch say
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“If he doesn’t do it, it’s the wrong decision,” McCoist said. “That’s clear: the owner made his life-or-death decision.
“It’s a big gamble. What he needs to get right away is the reaction from the players.”
premier league relegation battle
15th on goal difference – Leeds 30 – 916 – Tottenham 29 – 117 – Nottingham Forest 27 – 1318 – West Ham 24 – 1719 – Burnley 18 – 2320 – Wolves 9 – 32
TNT Sports expert Joe Cole said the decision to let Dyche go was somewhat understandable given his recent dip in form, but he believed the former Burnley manager would still keep Forest in the top flight.
“I understand the logic behind it, but I think if Dyche had stayed, they would have happened,” Cole said.
‘Momentum is very important’ in relegation battle
Cole also praised Forrest and McCoist for West Ham’s recent resurgence and suggested Forrest resign.
This leaves West Ham and Forest as the teams most likely to occupy third place in the drop zone.
Cole supported Forest’s departure, pointing out that he remained loyal to his former team, who had won three of their last five league games.
“I’m going to Forest (to get relegated) and that’s my intention,” Cole said.
He went on to single out Crisencio Somerville as a key figure in the battle to remain, adding: “You know the most important player for West Ham to keep fit. Who came from nowhere? It’s Somerville.”
McCoist agreed, pointing out that England forward Jarrod Bowen posed a threat from the other flank.
“The two wide players were great,” he said. “Bowen is just on a different level. Somerville is doing really well. They look a lot more solid. I think momentum is very important.”
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Highlights: Sesco saves points for Manchester United with dramatic late leveler
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McCoist said one of West Ham’s strengths is team spirit, and cited rivals Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace as examples of teams that could struggle due to a lack of consistency.
With Fabian Hürzeler at the Amex looking uncertain if he will stay at the end of the season and Palace losing Oliver Glasner in the summer, West Ham appear to be in the unusual position of building on stronger foundations after a few years of struggle under previous managers.
“You talk about Brighton, you talk about Palace, there’s a lot of uncertainty. There’s one thing West Ham have and that’s unity,” McCoist added.
