As most Hammers fans will be acutely aware, West Ham United currently hold the record for number of points accrued in a Premier League season by a relegated team.
In May 2003, Trevor Brooking's Hammers dropped into the Coca Cola Championship with a total of 42 points, after drawing 2-2 at Birmingham City on the final day of the 2002/03 season.And with Tottenham having finally won their first Premier League game of 2026 at Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend, many commentators are predicting that Roberto De Zerbi's team are set for a much improved end to the season.
That has led to a number of forecasts predicting that it will take in excess of 40 points to secure Premier League safety this season. But surely lightning couldn't possibly strike twice - could it?
Well yes, it could - and here's the possible permutation that could leave West Ham facing the drop - even if securing 42 points again this season!
Firstly, Nuno Espirito Santo's side would need to accrue a further six points from their remaining four fixtures to reach the golden number. And it's far from inconceivable that West Ham could pick up a pair of wins from the fixtures at Brentford and Newcastle plus Leeds at home on the final day of the season.
That means Spurs - who would retain their superior goal difference - would require a minimum of ten points from their remaining trips to Aston Villa and Chelsea and the two home fixtures against Leeds and, on the final day of the campaign, versus Everton.
Such an unlikely scenario would leave both clubs on 42 points and United relegated on goal difference, on the basis that Nottingham Forest pick up at least one more win or three draws - which would also leave the Tricky Trees above West Ham on goal difference - and Leeds a minimum of two draws.
Of course any scenario in which West Ham were to be relegated on 42 points would require Tottenham usurping the Irons, although it is still not necessarily the case that one or the other should drop.
For as stated above, Forest - currently on 39 points and with a difficult run-in, complicated by their Europa League involvement - could still be relegated if they were to experience a sudden collapse and the two London sides an upturn in results.
Additionally, beaten FA Cup semi-finalists Leeds are not yet quite mathematically safe, despite having 40 points on the board and with trips to both West Ham and Tottenham to come.
Meanwhile, there is also a slim prospect of Newcastle United being relegated, despite having already accrued 42 points and enjoying a +12 goal difference advantage over West Ham at present.
The misfiring Mags, currently on a run of five straight defeats face both West Ham and Forest before the end of the season, with tests against fellow mid-table outfits Fulham and Brighton also to come.
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