Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker has indirectly praised Nottingham Forest after a huge result at the bottom of the table.
The relegation battle looks to have been narrowed down to five teams after West Ham’s important win over Manchester United on Sunday. Said Benrahma’s first half goal earned three points for the Hammers at the London Stadium and moved David Moyes’ side seven points clear of the Reds, having played a game more.
Forest are preparing to host Southampton on Monday in a huge clash in their bid for survival, while West Ham can concentrate on their Europa Conference League semi-final against AZ Alkmaar. Reacting to West Ham’s win, Lineker praised the Hammers’ performance and suggested that the club were being rewarded for sticking with Moyes.
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“Great win for West Ham,” Lineker wrote on Twitter. “Interesting that another team that stuck with their manager has reaped the rewards.”
There have been 15 managerial changes in the Premier League this season, with Forest and West Ham the only two teams in the bottom half to have stood by their manager. Despite fears over his future throughout the campaign, Forest have kept faith with Cooper, with club currently in the bottom three on goal difference with four games left to play.
It is unclear which other teams Lineker was referring to; all of the top four have stuck with their original coach, as well as Liverpool, Brentford and Fulham. West Ham’s win means it will be difficult for Cooper’s side to finish above the Hammers but Forest can take another important step towards safety with a positive result against Southampton at the City Ground.
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