West Ham Boss Nuno Espirito Santo Expects Relegation Battle To Go To The Wire

West Ham edged a little further from the Premier League relegation zone with a goalless draw at Crystal Palace, yet Nuno Espirito Santo remains certain the survival scrap will be decided on the final day, as West Ham and several rivals continue to sit within a narrow points range.

The point at Selhurst Park moved West Ham two clear of Tottenham in the standings, though the gap stays small enough to maintain real jeopardy. The match contained few clear chances, leaving Nuno pleased with the defensive work but aware the team still needs more in attack.

Opta’s supercomputer places West Ham’s chance of relegation at 38%, an improvement on recent weeks but still a serious risk. Tottenham, under Roberto De Zerbi, are rated more likely to go down, with a 57.2% probability, reflecting the tight margins that continue to shape this relegation battle.

West Ham’s schedule underlines why Nuno expects tension to last. The remaining league fixtures are against Everton, Brentford, Arsenal, Newcastle United and Leeds United. These games feature direct rivals and top-four contenders, so every point may carry heavy weight across the final weeks of the campaign.

The stalemate with Crystal Palace followed a 4-0 win over Wolves, whose relegation was confirmed by Monday’s results. That sequence means West Ham have now recorded consecutive Premier League clean sheets for the first time since February 2025, when Arsenal and Leicester City failed to score against Nuno’s side.

At Selhurst Park, both teams struggled to create clear openings. Crystal Palace finished with 0.68 expected goals and West Ham with 0.61, for a combined 1.21 xG. That low total reflected a match defined by compact defending and limited space, especially in central areas and around the penalty area.

Nuno felt the defensive structure laid the base for the result, though West Ham could not produce a decisive moment. "We performed well. We were organised and compact," Nuno told Sky Sports. "It was a tough match. Our offensive process, the combinations didn’t quite go rightthe final ball, the final touch."

Nuno highlighted the difficulty of breaking Crystal Palace down and warned that the season’s tight margins will affect both ends of the table. "The game was very balanced. It’s a tough shape to play against. It’s brought them a lot of success. It’s hard because they are good players. You cannot find the gaps. They are a threat on counter-attacks. We were solid. It’s going to be a fight until the end. It will go all the way, for sure. Not only at the bottom of the table but at the top. This season has been very tight."

When asked how many points might secure safety, Nuno refused to set a specific total. "We don’t make points, we play games. We have a mission ahead and we’ll keep going." That approach keeps focus on performances rather than projections, despite the constant attention on the relegation picture.

Premier League relegation battle, Jarrod Bowen milestone and team response

Jarrod Bowen hit two landmarks at Selhurst Park, making a 350th league appearance and a 250th start for West Ham in all competitions. Crystal Palace restricted Bowen throughout, limiting the England international to a single attempt on goal, which carried an expected goals value of only 0.04.

Bowen felt the clean sheet and draw might still carry weight in the struggle near the bottom. "They are a really good side, on a high from Europe. We knew it was going to be tough coming here and we would have to defend well. To be fair, we did have some chances that on another day could have gone in. We wanted to come here and win, but I don’t think a point is the worst thing in the world, either. Quality is not going to get you out on its own. It’s team spirit and togetherness and I think we did that with a clean sheet. We’ll take a point, with the situation we’re in. We can’t rely on results or look at everything else going on. We have to focus on ourselves and keep fighting."

The draw, following the win over Wolves, keeps West Ham just ahead of Tottenham and outside the relegation zone, but does not allow any comfort. With five games left against varied opposition and probabilities still finely balanced, Nuno and the squad know the Premier League relegation battle will remain central to every performance.