BREATHING SPACE FOR HAMMERS

ONE goal, scored by Cheikhou Kouyate, meant West Ham moved eight points clear of third-bottom Swansea instead of precariously within two of their relegation rivals.

The difference between a nerve jangling final run of games and grasping at safety. Between manager Slaven Bilic kicking back and making jokes in his post-match press conference and Swansea boss Paul Clement worrying about his players’ anxiety.

West Ham are still not out of it just yet but that should be enough. As it stands Swansea are stuck in it, two points behind Hull, but they got what they deserved.

At least West Ham went for it, prodding at Swansea’s goal early on, even if most of their early attacks lacked quality.

And then that one moment of quality arrived with one minute remaining of the half; Mark Noble passed to Snodgrass who tapped the ball into the path of Kouyate and he drove at goal then drove the ball into the right side of it from 20 yards.

So the difference between eight and two was only one, but what a huge difference that has made.