Hammers escape bid faces Sheffield obstacle

LONDON, Apr 12 (Reuters) West Ham United's last-ditch bid to escape relegation from the Premier League continues on Saturday when they travel to Sheffield United for a survival scrap neither side can afford to lose.

With the title contenders otherwise engaged in FA Cup semi-finals this weekend, the battle among the clubs fighting to retain their top flight status takes centre stage.

When Icelandic businessman Eggert Magnusson took control of West Ham in November he set out grand plans for the east London club, with talk of new stadiums, Champions League football and big-money signings.

So far, things have not gone entirely to plan.

When his 85 million pounds takeover was accepted West Ham were fifth from bottom and Alan Pardew was manager.

Pardew was axed in December as the club's downward spiral gathered momentum, although his replacement, Alan Curbishley, had little impact as the Hammers disintegrated.

A 4-3 home defeat by Tottenham Hotspur in March left them bottom of the league and even the most optimistic fans seemed to have abandoned hope.

However a fortunate 2-1 victory at Blackburn Rovers was followed by a 2-0 home win over Middlesbrough. Then, last weekend they became the first team to beat Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium thanks to Bobby Zamora's winner.

That run has left West Ham, FA Cup finalists last season on their return to the Premier League, still second from bottom but now only three points from safety and two below Sheffield United who have lost three league games in a row.

''We needed points and have got them and now it makes it a lot more interesting,'' Curbishley said after the Arsenal win.

''I would like to think this is the start of a run for us.

(Sheffield United) and Wigan have been dragged into it and we still have to play them both.'' HOPELESS SITUATION Like West Ham, Charlton Athletic, with Pardew now at the helm, have turned a hopeless situation around.

Two 0-0 draws over Easter prevented them putting any daylight between themselves and the drop zone, however, and they are perched precariously one point above Sheffield United and three above West Ham, both of whom have a game in hand.

Bottom club Watford, who play Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final this weekend, are nine points shy of safety.

Charlton face a tough task on Sunday at sixth-placed Everton, although a run of six games undefeated and four consecutive clean sheets means the Londoners now have their fate in their own hands.

Wigan Athletic, in 16th, also look vulnerable. They have a three-point cushion over Sheffield United and will hope to take advantage of Tottenham Hotspur's busy schedule when they host the UEFA Cup quarter-finalists on Sunday.

''I didn't enjoy what happened last year, nobody wants to be relegated,'' said Wigan striker Emile Heskey, who suffered the drop last season with Birmingham City.

Fulham, who sacked manager Chris Coleman on Tuesday after a run of six league games without a win put them back into the relegation mix, play at Reading on Saturday.

New manager Lawrie Sanchez has five matches to gather the two victories that should keep the Thamesside club afloat in the top flight for another season.

At the top end of the table fourth-placed Arsenal need to snap out of a run of three defeats and a draw when they take on fifth-placed Bolton Wanderers at home. Defeat for the Gunners would drop them out of the Champions League places.

Third-placed Liverpool, who reached the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday, travel to Manchester City.

REUTERS SSC RK1045