Premier League<\/a> season remaining, it\u2019s time for some honest reflection: M&S sherbet fruits are the best football snack. Or Mini Eggs<\/s> the standard at the top is not high. However, the level beneath that \u2013 from sixth all the way down to 18th \u2013 has never been higher, anywhere.<\/p>\n And for proof, all we need to do is take look at West Ham: it\u2019s arguable that, whether the final relegation slot is filled by them or Tottenham, currently sat two points ahead, no better side will ever have gone down. Matheus Fernandes and Jarrod Bowen are top players; Crysencio Summerville and Taty Castellanos are more than useful; and a goodly number of others are well up to playing top-division football.<\/p>\n
Nor is West Ham\u2019s form that of a relegation outfit. In each of the last nine seasons, 36 points has been enough to stay up, but they have that with two games to go \u2013 as well as two wins and a draw in their last five.<\/p>\n
Of course, they\u2019re being punished now for dreadful form in the early part of the season, especially under Graham Potter, and also for the tremendous behaviour of Sunderland and Leeds, two promoted clubs. But even so, there is no way whatsoever they should be where they are, needing at least one win in their last two games to preserve their status, with even two potentially insufficient.<\/p>\n
If they could get the big W tonight, though, they\u2019d put serious pressure on Spurs, who travel to Chelsea on Tuesday and host Everton on the final day. And one victory in six, along with seven home defeats, tell us Newcastle are beatable, the physicality which underpins their best play less pronounced this season and the contribution of Alexander Isak not adequately replaced.<\/p>\n
So, though trips to St James\u2019 are never easy, given the way things have gone for Newcastle this term and the nothing for which they have to play, it\u2019s actually one of the better options for a side desperately seeking a result. But Eddie Howe\u2019s men won\u2019t want the shame of another set of players cavorting on their pitch, just as their support won\u2019t want the away contingent leaving with happy vibes, so it\u2019s eyes down for a absolutely tussle that might just be the highest-level 13th v 18th we\u2019ve ever seen; this is absolutely gargantuan.<\/p>\n
Kick-off:<\/strong> 5.30pm BST<\/p>\n\n