West Ham boosted hopes of avoiding Premier League relegation with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Tottenham, sealed by Callum Wilson’s 93rd-minute goal. The result ended a 10-game winless league run and kept
West Ham 18th, but cut the gap to 17th-place Nottingham Forest to five points after Forest’s draw with Arsenal.
Wilson’s late strike came amid strong transfer speculation around the forward’s future, yet the substitute delivered under pressure at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. West Ham had already rediscovered a winning feeling one week earlier with a 2-1 FA Cup success against Queens Park Rangers, giving the squad renewed belief and momentum.
Nuno Espirito Santo stressed that recent results strengthened confidence in West Ham’s Premier League survival push. "We started really well. The way we were organised, not allowing Spurs to go easy, always trying to press and recover.When we had the ball, we had good chances and combinations. We believe [we can escape relegation]. We have to worry about ourselves, work harder and commit more. I'm really proud of the way the players have been dealing with this situation. It's a tough one, but they are determined to turn it around. "
That performance against Tottenham followed the narrow FA Cup win over Queens Park Rangers, which ended a wider run without victory in all competitions. Nuno viewed those matches as linked steps in West Ham’s response to relegation pressure, pointing to improved organisation, intensity without the ball and better attacking combinations when possession was secured.
Wilson stepped off the bench to decide the Tottenham match and felt the display reflected West Ham’s growing resilience. "It's massive today, the boys played fantastic," the striker added. "I think we deserved to be in front on the whole, especially with the chances we had in the first half. It wasn't to be [initially], but thankfully, we ended up getting the three points. You get put on to do a job, no matter if that's five minutes or 50. Throughout my career I've always tried to be professional, and Idid that today. Any club winning games is important, whether it's the cup, or even just in small-sided games in training. Then,it extends onto the field. Getting back-to-back games is something to build on. "
Nuno underlined how much the stoppage-time winner meant to the travelling support. "It means a lot for our fans, who were there cheering for us," Nuno said. "It's special to do it in the last moments of the game, because we have been on the other side of that many times this season. " The head coach pointed to previous late setbacks as a reference point for the squad’s emotional reaction.
West Ham’s recent key results and position in the Premier League relegation fight can be set out clearly below.
| Competition | Fixture | Score | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | Tottenham vs West Ham | 2-1 to West Ham | January 17, 2026 |
| FA Cup | Queens Park Rangers vs West Ham | 2-1 to West Ham | Previous weekend |
| Premier League | West Ham league position | 18th place | After Tottenham match |
| Premier League | Nottingham Forest league position | 17th place | After draw with Arsenal |
The mood around West Ham shifted with these back-to-back wins, as players and staff stressed self-focus over other results. Any improvement in form remains vital with the club still inside the relegation zone, yet recent performances against Tottenham and Queens Park Rangers offered a platform to build from in the remaining Premier League fixtures.
Absolute cinema. pic.twitter.com/Ag4w68D0ezWest Ham United (@WestHam) January 17, 2026
