Worryingly for West Ham United, Avram Grant’s side is seeming to be in a pattern of repeating what Portsmouth did last season on the field. That is that they’re frustratingly unable to get all three points. So far this season, the Hammers have played 13 matches. Out of those, they’ve won just once, lost six and drawn six. That 7% win percentage is far worse than Portsmouth’s win percentage of 18% last season. At this rate, West Ham United look to be certain relegation candidates unless they can start turning their draws into wins.

Despite what the scoreline suggests, Saturday’s nil-nil draw between West Ham United and Blackpool was a very entertaining match. It was one of those matches with end-to-end action. Blackpool’s Marlon Harewood had a goal disallowed, which was the wrong decision. Richard Kingson, the brilliant goalkeeper for Ghana in the 2010 World Cup, made a wonderful fingertip save to deny Mark Noble from a goal. Pablo Barrera had a golden chance of goal to win the game for Hammers but his shot hit a Blackpool defender instead of the back of the net.

Just like Portsmouth last season, West Ham United are missing that confidence and killer blow to beat their opposition. They show flashes of brilliance, especially from Scott Parker, Frederic Piquionne and Victor Obinna, but it never quite seems to be enough. There’s the negativity of Luis Boa Morte in the side who was booed off the pitch Saturday but held his hands over his ears to send a message to the Hammers faithful. But West Ham also seems to be suffering from poor concentration levels. Silly mistakes, poor defending, lack of composure in front of goal when it truly matters. At the same time, the West Ham United supporters are incredibly disillusioned by the performances of the team. Many of them already seem resigned to relegation.

Is there a link perhaps between Portsmouth and West Ham United? Would West Ham United be in the trouble that they’re in now if that hadn’t sacked Gianfranco Zola? Perhaps we’ll never know, but the one commonality is Avram Grant. He is without a doubt a knowledgeable football manager who could rescue this team out of the relegation zone. But the club’s patience is running out and I wouldn’t be surprised if Gold and Sullivan pull the plug soon before it’s too late. A knight in shining armor won’t turn West Ham’s fortunes around immediately but unless Grant can get his side winning soon, the West Ham owners may be forced into making a decision to appease their ticket buyers.

West Ham’s next match is away against fellow strugglers Liverpool, this Saturday at 12:30pm ET/5:30pm UK time.