David Moyes says it “nearly feels uneasy” talking about West Ham’s place near the top of the Premier League after the Hammers beat bottom club Sheffield United.
Declan Rice’s penalty, a header by Issa Diop and a third from substitute Ryan Fredericks lifted Moyes’ side into the top four and a Champions League spot.
However, Chelsea’s win over Newcastle in Monday’s late kick-off meant West Ham finished the day fifth – above champions Liverpool.
“We’ve got five games before April and if we make it to there it might start hotting up,” said Moyes after a sixth West Ham win in eight league games.
“But it nearly feels uneasy talking like this. The teams around us are top, top teams and we are going to have to play incredibly well to be there.
“But I think we’ve got another gear or two to what we’ve shown tonight.”
Chris Basham’s lunge on Jesse Lingard helped gift the Hammers victory, Rice making no mistake from the spot before Diop, who was forced off with a head injury in his previous game, doubled the lead from Aaron Cresswell’s corner.
Substitute Fredericks added a third deep into stoppage time.
Sheffield United, 14 points from safety with 14 games left, went close to equalising at 1-0 only for Lukasz Fabianski to produce an outstanding save to keep out David McGoldrick’s deflected header
Timo Werner scored and assisted as he ended a 14-game goal drought to help Chelsea to victory over Newcastle in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge.
Werner’s cross rebounded out to Olivier Giroud to net Chelsea’s opener in the first half, after the France striker replaced the injured Tammy Abraham.
Summer signing Werner then made it 2-0 eight minutes later, scrambling in a flick-on at the back post.
Victory sees Chelsea move back up to fourth place, ahead of West Ham.
The Hammers, who comfortably beat Sheffield United earlier on Monday night, are level on points with Chelsea but both sides sit above defending champions Liverpool as competition for Champions League places heats up.
“We knew we had the opportunity to jump into the top four,” Tuchel told BBC Sport. “We took this chance and the guys get a well deserved two days off now.
“There was a big gap between us when we started. It’s not over. Now we’ve made it and it’s the moment to hang in and keep on showing the hunger we had. We’ve made this big step today. We have to follow up and not lose any intensity or determination.”
