A bad day for West Ham at Crystal Palace was made worse as the other results started to filter through at Selhurst Park.
Wins for Southampton and Aston Villa mean the Hammers are just one point above the bottom three and pressure will again start to build on Manuel Pellegrini if things do not improve quickly.
Pellegrini brought himself some time with the win against Southampton but West Ham were poor again against Palace and they are in danger of being dragged into a relegation battle.
Fabianski can lift Hammers
West Ham desperately need a lift and they hope Lukasz Fabianski will be fit to return against Leicester to provide that.
Fabianski has been out since September with a hip injury and did not recover in time to face Crystal Palace on Boxing Day. But there is optimism that the Pole will be able to face Leicester.
With Fabianski and David Martin both out injured, the Hammers were forced to recall Roberto at Palace. The Spaniard did OK but having Fabianski back would be a major boost.
Home form must improve
There are clearly problems which run deep at West Ham and if Pellegrini is going to ease the scrutiny on him then he knows West Ham are going to have to improve their dismal home form.
Next up for the Hammers is two home games against Leicester and Bournemouth. West Ham have only won twice at the London Stadium this season and they have not done so since beating Manchester United back in September.
If that record does not change, Pellegrini will be under real pressure going into the New Year.
Whatever happens in those two home games, you sense January is going to be telling month for West Ham. The Hammers clearly need to strengthen a squad which has looked short of quality and pace on too many occasions this season.
Co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold have backed Pellegrini with £180million since he took over but they will be wary that unless things improve in the second half of the season then West Ham could face a relegation fight.
