West Ham analysis: Momentum building for survival bidpublished at 20:11 GMT 7 February
20:11 GMT 7 February
Steve Sutcliffe BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
Having gone 10 Premier League matches without a win, West Ham finally appear to have built some momentum from Callum Wilson's dramatic late goal at Tottenham on 17 January.
They have now collected nine points from the last 12 available and can tackle their remaining 13 games with renewed hope and optimism.
Nuno's side are certainly in better form than Tottenham and Crystal Palace, who are six points better off than them, while Nottingham Forest are well within their sights.
On Saturday, it clearly felt like there was gulf in class between the Hammers and the side directly below them in the table.
French defender Axel Disasi - a deadline-day arrival on loan from Chelsea - provided a steadying influence in defence on his first top-flight start since 8 March, 2025 during a temporary spell at Aston Villa.
That helped the visitors end a 21-game run without a clean sheet, while Burnley failed to get to grips further forward with Mateus Fernandes, who controlled midfield and enjoyed more touches than any other player.
Four of those crucially came when he laid on the opening goal for Crysencio Summerville, whose pace caused Clarets full-back Kyle Walker problems all afternoon.
Burnley 0-2 West Ham: What Nuno saidpublished at 18:37 GMT 7 February
18:37 GMT 7 February
Media caption,
West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo, speaking to BBC Sport: "It was important to react from the previous match and the boys did fantastic work today. We were solid and strong in our box.
"We are still in the same situation we have to focus on ourselves. We have to try and get this energy to London Stadium. Our fans were helping the team it was so nice to see."
On Crysencio Summerville: "He is playing amazing, not only the work he does scoring and assisting but also the way he moves on the pitch, helps the defence. He is in a nice moment."
Did you know?
West Ham have won three of their last four Premier League games (L1), as many as they had in their previous 21 (D5 L13).
Crysencio Summerville became the first player to score in five consecutive appearances for West Ham in all competitions since Jesse Lingard in March/April 2021.
The Hammers kept their first Premier League clean sheet since a 3-0 win at Nottingham Forest in August, ending a run of 21 games in which they'd conceded at least once.
You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Bournemouth v Aston Villa" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Arsenal v Sunderland", for instance.
Sutton's predictions: Burnley v West Hampublished at 11:13 GMT 7 February
11:13 GMT 7 February
Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against AI, BBC Sport readers and a variety of guests.
His guest for week 25 is Gladiators star Apollo, real name Alex Gray, who supports Newcastle.
Sutton says: I think Burnley are down but this is their chance to prove me wrong.
They need it to be - they are at home, against a team one place above them in the table, so this is their big chance to end their long wait for a win.
I just don't see it happening for the Clarets, though.
I am not sure which West Ham side will turn up, but they have shown some improvement recently, especially in attack.
I don't think the Hammers will keep a clean sheet because they have had only one all season - the fewest by any top-flight team - but I don't see Burnley beating them.
Burnley v West Ham: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 19:02 GMT 6 February
19:02 GMT 6 February
Burnley welcome West Ham United to Turf Moor on Saturday (15:00 GMT) in a match of huge importance in the battle to avoid relegation.
Desperate times for Burnley
Fifteen matches without a league win, 11 points from safety and just 14 games remaining. Things are getting desperate for Burnley as they head into a six-pointer with fellow strugglers West Ham.
Monday night's dismal defeat at Sunderland left Scott Parker raging, with the Clarets boss saying they "fell short in terms of a lack of intent in everything we did at times".
One of Parker's biggest concerns is that it is not just at one end of the pitch that they are struggling, it's at both.
Burnley are now responsible for four of the 12 occasions that a team has failed to register a shot on target in a Premier League game this season.
While Martin Dubravka may have made the most saves in the top flight this campaign with 97, he's also conceded more goals than any other goalkeeper with 47.
The loss at the Stadium of Light means they are now just two defeats short of equalling their longest winless run within the same top-flight season of 17, set way back in 1889-90.
They are yet to find the magic formula of how to bridge the gap between the second tier and the top one. Across 100 Premier League games in 2021-22, 2023-24 and this campaign so far, they have won just 15 games and lost 56. That contrasts with 57 wins and just five defeats in 92 Championship matches across 2022-23 and 2024-25.
Hammers ruing Chelsea defeat
West Ham are still licking their wounds after letting a two-goal lead slip to lose against Chelsea. If they had held on for a win it would have been their fourth on the spin in all competitions and would have put the Hammers just three points from safety.
Instead, it marked the seventh time that they've failed to win after opening the scoring this season (D3, L4), while they've also dropped the joint-most amount of points from winning positions in the top flight.
It was also the 21st consecutive league game in which they have failed to keep a clean sheet, the longest such run in Europe's top five leagues.
One source of comfort to Hammers' fans is their excellent recent record against Burnley that has seen them pick up four wins and three draws in their last seven league encounters.
Nuno Espirito Santo's side will be targeting another fast start at Turf Moor. They have scored eight goals in the opening 15 minutes of league games, while opponents Burnley have let in six goals in the opening 10 minutes - both of which are top-flight highs.
Having already lost to Sunderland and Leeds this season, the east Londoners are aiming to avoid losing to all three promoted clubs in a single campaign for the first time since 2009-10. That included a 2-1 defeat away to Burnley.
Before this game kicks off, all eyes will be on Friday's night's clash between 16th-place Leeds United and 17th-place Nottingham Forest at Elland Road.
Nuno on relegation fight, losing Paqueta and new signing Disasipublished at 14:13 GMT 5 February
14:13 GMT 5 February
Tyrese King BBC Sport journalist
West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been speaking to the media before Satuday's Premier League game against Burnley at Turf Moor (kick-off 15:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
On team news: "There are some problems that we have to monitor, players that we need to see carefully but apart from JC [Jean-Clair Todibo] because of the red card, everyone else is available. Hopefully."
On new loan signing Axel Disasi: "I think he's been working and physically he's in a good place. Of course, now he has to get in of the team, but I think he can help us, he's a strong defender and good on the ball."
However Disasi's readiness following a lack of game time at Chelsea will be assessed on Friday according to the Hammers boss.
On not replacing Lucas Paqueta: "The situation with Lucas that happened was something that was difficult, everybody is aware. In the end everybody looked for a better solution but we have to realise that you can have targets, and those targets are at other clubs and it's not just what you want but what the other clubs do also."
Nuno said the Janurary recruits knew what they have signed up for: "You have to be brave to join a club in this situation and they have shown a commitment and purpose to come and help. I'm positively aware that they understand the fight we are involved in."
Do they feel the superior team against Burnley, who are winless in 15 games? "No we never feel this because we know it's always going to be tough. Burnley are a good team, fighting for the same objective as us, and it's their home ground."
He added: "We played them here at London Stadium at the beginning of November, and it was very, very hard. The message of Scott Parker and Kyle Walker at the end of that was that they're going to react, and we have to be ready for that."
On the importance of this game: "There's a lot of football to be played but this is a very important game. This game means a lot us, especially reacting to what happened with Chelsea."
Hammers 'left it so late to get a centre-back in'published at 10:49 GMT 4 February
10:49 GMT 4 February
Media caption,
West Ham fan Holly Turbutt says the club's January transfer window was "not as inspiring as hoped" and they "left it late" to bring in defensive reinforcements.
'A good signing in theory' but worries over Disasi's lack of gamespublished at 12:04 GMT 3 February
12:04 GMT 3 February
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for your views on West Ham's new loanee Axel Disasi and whether he will improve the Hammers' defence.
Here are some of your comments:
Bob: His lack of playing time doesn't inspire me with confidence, but something needs to change at the back. I suppose desperate times require desperate measures!
Kelly: A good signing in theory, but can we expect miracles without Premier League game time recently? Our transfer policy is conducted like a game of whack-a-mole rather than a game of chess!
Andy: The chap couldn't get a game with Chelsea despite their squad rotation policy. Hasn't played a first-team game since April and, by all accounts, struggled in the under-21s. I can't see how this is going to help West Ham get out of the mess we are in. Our squad is thin - at best - where defensive options are concerned and not exactly top quality. That is what we are missing - quality. This doesn't solve a thing. No offence to the young man but I can't see how this loan provides us with comfort, quality or confidence at all.
Mick: If he is fit enough then he will be worth it, but the fact he has had so little game time worries me. I hope he comes good because he's a class defender.
Dave: He hasn't had many match minutes for a long spell, so he should be highly motivated to show what he can do. Time for Nuno Espirito Santo to drop his illogical admiration for the liability that is Max Kilman.
Matt: West Ham are obsessed with signing rejects and stand-ins, especially from Chelsea and relegated teams. Occasionally we get lucky and somebody turns out better than expected. We're in a beggar's choice position now, but we're here because we rarely sign players of real quality who aren't desperate to leave their clubs. Ironically, the last time we did it was Kilman and he's turned out to be far less good than he should be.
Will Disasi improve West Ham's defence?published at 07:51 GMT 3 February
07:51 GMT 3 February
Chris Adams BBC Sport journalist
From the moment Joao Pedro pulled a goal back just before the hour mark, there was an air of inevitability about West Ham's 3-2 defeat by Chelsea on Saturday.
The second-half capitulation at Stamford Bridge was the Hammers' 21st consecutive league game without a clean sheet – the joint worst record in Europe's top five leagues.
Nuno Espirito Santo's side led 2-0 at half-time but all of their good work in the opening period was undone by another feeble defensive showing after the break.
The Irons moved to address that problem on transfer deadline day with the signing of France international centre-back Axel Disasi, who joins on loan from Saturday's opponents Chelsea.
Given that he hasn't played a senior game this season, Disasi doesn't feel like an entirely convincing solution to the well-documented defensive woes at London Stadium.
The 27-year-old's last appearance in a Chelsea shirt came on 20 January 2025 before he was demoted to the Blues' so-called 'bomb squad' under Enzo Maresca. A loan spell at Aston Villa followed, during which he played 10 times.
Crucially, for a club involved in a relegation battle, Disasi has less Premier League experience than West Ham's existing central defensive options of Max Kilman, Konstantinos Mavropanos and Jean-Clair Todibo, who will be suspended for at least three matches after his stoppage-time red card for violent conduct on Saturday.
There is evidence Disasi is better on the ball than that trio - although the data may be skewed from playing in better teams - but what the Hammers desperately need is steel and organisation to mend the league's worst defence.
That's not to say the Frenchman, who came on as an extra-time substitute in the 2022 World Cup final, can't provide those qualities and fulfil the promise he showed at Reims and Monaco; talent that convinced Chelsea to shell out £38.5m for him in August 2023.
So, over to you... how happy are you with the signing of Disasi? Will he improve the Hammers' defence and help keep Nuno's side up?
'They really wanted me, so that's why I'm here' - Disasipublished at 23:53 GMT 2 February
23:53 GMT 2 February
Image source, Getty Images
West Ham's new loanee, Axel Disasi says he wants to "feel the sensation of games" after falling out of favour at Chelsea.
The 27-year-old featured in 44 games across all competitions for Chelsea in his debut 2023-24 season, but in his third campaign with the club he has not featured once.
"I'm very happy to be here, to have this opportunity," Disasi told West Ham's club media. "I'm just ready to fight and to play games."
Disasi joined Aston Villa on loan during the winter transfer window last season and featured 10 times during his time with Unai Emery's side.
"Everyone knows my situation in the last few months, so I just want to get back on the field, feel the sensation of games and help the team, he added.
"The club has given me the opportunity to show my quality on the pitch. I spoke with all the people here, and I feel that they really wanted me, so that's why I'm here today."
Although West Ham still sit in the relegation zone Nuno Espirito Santo's side have picked up six points from a possible nine in their last three games.
Disasi said: "It's an exciting challenge. We know that the club is not at the place that it should be, but I'm here to help the team and to bring what I can to achieve our goal."
West Ham's activity on deadline daypublished at 23:31 GMT 2 February
23:31 GMT 2 February
West Ham have done the following business on deadline day:
Axel Disasi has joined the Hammers on loan until the end of the season from Chelsea. The 27-year-old France international told the club's media: "I'm just ready to fight and to play games."
West Ham academy defender Emeka Adiele has joined Dutch side FC Utrecht on a permanent deal for an undisclosed fee.
This is your West Ham page. Hit follow if you're on the website and you'll see more Hammers content when you visit us. On the app? Hit the bell icon and select news alerts. We'll then send you the best bits.
Watch a London football special as clock ticks downpublished at 17:51 GMT 2 February
17:51 GMT 2 February
Watch Total Sport's transfer deadline day special for London, discussing the business done by Arsenal, Brentford, Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Fulham, Tottenham and West Ham, plus the capital's EFL sides.
The show, which runs from 18:00-20:00 GMT, will offer the latest updates and analysis on the done and rumoured deals.
Keeper Hermansen wants loan move before deadlinepublished at 13:31 GMT 2 February
13:31 GMT 2 February
Nick Mashiter Football reporter
Image source, Getty Images
West Ham goalkeeper Mads Hermansen is eager to go out on loan before the deadline.
The 25-year-old has not played in the Premier League since September and wants more game time before a potential World Cup spot.
Denmark face North Macedonia in their play-off semi-final next month, with the winners playing Czech Republic or the Republic of Ireland as they try to reach the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico this summer.
Hermansen joined West Ham from Leicester City for £16.5m in the summer and started the season as number one but was replaced after just four games by Alphonse Areola.
He has played just once since, the 2-1 FA Cup win over QPR last month.
If West Ham were to let the goalkeeper go, they would need to source a replacement before Monday's 19:00 GMT deadline so there is no guarantee Hermansen will get his wish.
Image source, Getty Images
