Fabianski could prove key to Hammers survival

It could be argued that current Hammer of the Year Lukasz Fabianski, so far this season, has not quite reached the dizzy heights that he set in his debut West Ham campaign.

Many would unequivocally agree, however, that his stop-start has not been his fault, with lady luck more so to blame.

The Pole has suffered two separate injuries this season, with his first – a hip injury away to Bournemouth – resulting in a fourteen game absence, which uncoincidentally led the Hammers to a woeful run of form, eventually resulting in the sacking of Manuel Pellegrini.

Now, that isn’t to claim that the loss of Fabianski was the sole reason for the Chilean’s downturn in fortune, but it, without doubt, played a huge role, as Roberto Jimenez couldn’t quite live up to the former Arsenal man’s high standards.

Since West Ham’s number, one has been back between the sticks without disruption, the goalkeeping issue has become less of a concern for Pellegrini’s successor David Moyes, with more pressing issues elsewhere on the pitch.

That isn’t to say that Fabianski has been without fault in that time, though, as he arguably cost the Hammers a famous three points at Anfield, with uncharacteristic errors leading to a narrow 3-2 defeat for Moyes’ men.

With the final nine fixtures approaching, starting with a home clash against Wolves this Saturday, it is vital that Fabianski is at his best, as he could prove key to Premier League survival.

There is no longer any room for mistakes, with every match as vital as they come. With the exception of Angelo Ogbonna, the defence has been shaky throughout the season, so along with crucial saves, Fabianski will have to ensure that the wall in front of him remains watertight, leaving him as invulnerable as possible.

The rest of the team also have a big part to play, but if West Ham has an in-form Fabianski shielding their goal, their chances of survival become indisputably higher.