\n<\/p>\n
The 40-point mark – or thereabouts – could be needed once again to guarantee Premier League survival this term, with an in-form <\/b>West Ham<\/b><\/a> attempting to chase down the sides above them. <\/b><\/p>\n That mythical number has often been cited as the threshold at which managers, players and fans can relax – but the total has not actually been needed to stay up since 2010-11. <\/p>\n Prior to that the only other occasions clubs were demoted with 40 points or more were 1996-97, 1997-98 and 2002-03. <\/p>\n But could that be about to change? <\/p>\n West Ham<\/a>, who are 18th in the top flight, are only three points behind 17th-placed Nottingham Forest<\/a>, who sacked manager Sean Dyche<\/a> after Wednesday’s goalless draw with Wolves<\/a>.<\/p>\n While Tottenham<\/a> – who sacked boss Thomas Frank on Wednesday<\/a> – are 16th, another two points ahead of Forest.<\/p>\n With 12 games remaining history shows the Hammers are more than capable of surviving, and in Nuno Espirito Santo they have a manager who knows what it takes to stay up from his time at Forest.<\/p>\n West Ham<\/a>‘s current points tally (24) is the most by any side in 18th at this stage of a campaign since 2019-20, when the Hammers recovered to stay up with 39 points. <\/p>\n And they are arguably the form club in the lower reaches of the table, with three wins helping them take 10 points from their past five games. <\/p>\n Leeds<\/a> also look to have found some momentum with recent wins over Fulham<\/a> and Forest as well as draws at Everton<\/a> and Chelsea<\/a>.<\/p>\n In contrast Spurs have managed a meagre four points from the previous 27 available to them. <\/p>\n Meanwhile, now managerless Forest have won just two of their past 10 games and fans of Brighton<\/a> and Crystal Palace<\/a> may also be looking over their shoulders. <\/p>\n The 14th-placed Seagulls (31 points) are on a dismal run having won just one top-flight game since 30 November.<\/p>\n Palace – who are a place and a point above Brighton<\/a> – have only tasted victory once since 7 December and most recently let a two-goal lead slip as they lost to struggling Burnley.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n