The temptation for a struggling side at the wrong end of the table is to try and identify at least three teams worse than yours. But it’s hard work if you’re West Ham.

For established Premier League clubs a pointless start after four games wouldn’t be so bad if there were other clear-cut relegation candidates. You’re convinced that it’s only a matter of time before you start climbing the table and the teams meant to battle it out to avoid the drop take your place.

But that looks increasingly unlikely. All three newly promoted teams have done relatively well so far and it’s perfectly reasonable to expect at least two of them to stay up.

 

So where does that leave the Upton Park outfit? They were hoping this weekend’s meeting with Stoke would be an early season basement battle but their last minute comeback against Aston Villa put paid to that, while Everton, the other side occupying the relegation places, won’t be there for long.

It’s the manner of West Ham’s defeats that’s causing most concern. Chelsea’s second goal in their 3-1 win at Upton Park summed up the Hammers at the moment.

All of a sudden you’re adrift, falling further and further behind with nothing to look forward to except the possibility of a lucky cup run. But enough about Portsmouth. If Avram Grant wants the Hammers to avoid the fate of his previous club then they need to get they’re act together because at the moment they have relegation written all over them.