West Ham head to Elland Road for a literal six-pointer against Leeds United on Friday night and the stakes have rarely been higher.
The Hammers are looking to close the gap on Leeds to one point and breathe life into their battle for survival.
Nuno Espirito Santo looked like he may have ignited something in this ramshackle West Ham squad when he oversaw improved performances against Everton and Arsenal in his first two games.
But the performance in the 2-0 home defeat to Brentford on Monday night was nothing short of an abomination.
In the summer, Paul Merson warned West Ham that Leeds would fancy finishing above them this season.
West Ham face six-pointer at Leeds
It is fair to say the Irons clearly did not heed that warning as a lack of sufficient transfer activity has the club staring into the abyss just eight games in.
Leeds have eight points to West Ham’s four ahead of their clash.
But more than that, Daniel Farke’s side have looked a lot more competitive in most games.
West Ham could and should have lost by seven or eight to Brentford.
The result and performance wasn’t helped by some complete and utter curve-balls thrown in by Nuno.
The Portuguese made some inexplicable changes to the side which all back-fired spectacularly.
They included dropping two of West Ham’s best and most dynamic players, El Hadji Malick Diouf and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Nuno also played without a striker at home and left Callum Wilson on the bench yet again.
Ollie Scarles and Andy Irving came from absolutely nowhere to start. And Nuno even put Scarles and Kyle Walker-Peters on the opposite flanks to their favoured positions, which also didn’t work.
Lessons will have been learnt.
Thankfully sanity looks set to be restored as Nuno makes three West Ham changes for Leeds but still snubs star.
The only reason West Ham did not lose by significantly more than 2-0 to the Bees was Alphonse Areola.
The big French stopper has the number one shirt under former top level goalkeeper Nuno and that doesn’t look like changing.
In reality West Ham’s defence needs to be completely ripped up and rebuilt, especially centrally.
Sanity restored as Nuno makes three West Ham changes for Leeds
Pound-for-pound, Max Kilman at £40m looks like one of the worst signings in West Ham history.
It says everything about loan signing Igor Julio that he cannot get a kick.
But with Konstantinos Mavropanos injured, Jean-Clair Todibo – another huge £32m flop – looks likely to continue in central defence alongside weak Kilman.
The first two changes will be at full-back.
Wan-Bissaka and Diouf will almost certainly come back into the starting XI as Nuno comes to his senses, taking the places of Scarles and Walker-Peters.
Nuno has hinted ahead of the game that he may move Jarrod Bowen up front after Lucas Paqueta failed to work as a false nine.
Photo by Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images
Nuno said Bowen is not a player who should be having to drop deep and drive forward with the ball and should instead be in dangerous areas being fed it.
We think that will mean Wilson is snubbed yet again at Leeds despite calls from many fans for the experienced forward to start.
The third change will be Irving.
A player who only signed so that a feeder club agreement could be above board, the Scot is nowhere near Premier League level.
Wilson snubbed again with Bowen moved up top?
The fact he has been made into some kind of cult hero by supporters shows how far West Ham have fallen.
The Hammers have gone from Declan Rice to Irving starting in central midfield. And people wonder why West Ham are staring relegation in the face?
It’s not Irving’s fault of course, he gives his all.
But he will come out of the side with Soungoutou Magassa, another surprisingly dropped for Brentford, back in the starting XI.
With Bowen possibly up top, Fernandes or Paqueta could play more off the right, with the Portuguese often effective in wider more advanced roles.
Predicted West Ham starting XI to face Leeds:
Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Diouf, Magassa, Soucek, Paqueta, Fernandes, Summerville, Bowen.
The official team will be announced at 6.45pm.