Latest West Ham slip means relegation is now a very serious threat

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West Ham twice let slip a two-goal lead yesterday to slip into the bottom three and increase fears of relegation.

The Hammers led 2-0 at the break before an Angelo Ogbonna own-goal let Brighton back into the game. But David Moyes’ men soon made it 3-1 and should have seen it home from there.

However, they allowed the Seagulls back into the game but quickfire goals from Pascal Gross and Glenn Murray ensured Graham Potter’s men left with a share of the spoils.

It was another bitter pill for the Hammers to swallow and their performance drew the wrath of their manager after the game.

More importantly, though, it was the performance of a team who look devoid of confidence and belief. It’s also a result that means relegation is now very much staring the club firmly in the face.

Big-money signings haven’t performed

It’s safe to say West Ham haven’t been shy to invest in recent years. Some huge sums have been spent when it comes to player recruitment.

Felipe Anderson arrived for more than £30m, Sebastien Haller cost a club-record £45m this summer, too.

Furthermore, they’ve also spent big on the likes of  Yarmolenko, Diop, and Pablo Fornals. That’s without mentioning the £22m capture of Jarrod Bowen on deadline day last week.

The brutal fact of the matter is that those players have to perform and deliver. Yes, some have had their injury worries at times but the truth is those players haven’t offered enough for the money the club spent.

Haller, for example, has scored just six times this season. Anderson, on the other hand, has just one. It’s simply not good enough.

‘Must do much better’, would be the comment on any school report for most of the Hammers’ signings.

Long-term worries if relegated

West Ham are in a relegation fight. There’s no other way around it. They find themselves third from bottom and with a tough run of games coming up that includes trips to Spurs, Man City, and Liverpool.

Those are three games where they’ll be expected to lose. After that Spurs game, there’ll be only seven Premier League games left to play.

It is, therefore, a seriously worrying time for the club. Relegation would be catastrophic. They’ve invested huge sums into the playing squad, including hefty wages and long-term contracts (Bowen signed a 5 and-a-half-year deal, for example).

David Moyes must get the Hammers going and quickly. Otherwise, a return to the Championship beckons for the Hammers and their loyal supporters.