Are West Ham single-handedly keeping the relegation battle alive?

While Forest are just three points above West Ham in 17th, Sean Dyche will hope his side has the quality to pull clear having spent around £200m on players over the last 12 months.

Opta rank the two-time champions of Europe as having a 15.3% chance of being relegated and it is likely Dyche will have to juggle his resources due to the club’s continued involvement in the Europa League, where they are due to face Fenerbahce in the knockout play-offs for the last 16.

“Too many times recently, I’ve seen Nottingham Forest look passive,” said Murphy.

“Whether that’s legginess from the amount of games in which Sean Dyche has had to play the same players. He gave fringe players the chance to stake their claim against Wrexham and they didn’t take it, so he’s had to pick the same eight or nine week in week out.

“I’ve done it myself and it’s hard trying to play every few days and playing to your best, especially under pressure of relegation. Plus, they are trying to manage Europe as well.”

Leeds, who claimed a valuable win over Forest on Friday, appear to be in the best form of the three sides on 29 points.