Springtime beckons and a Premier League's players' thoughts turn to three points. The race for the Premier League title has reached an intriguing point and if it is to be a three-horse race then it is to be hoped that none fall at the final hurdle.

Arsenal are beginning to show signs of wear and tear and after a classic masterpiece in Milan. The tank may be in need in of petrol. Manchester United, the current Premier League champions, are playing the kind of voluptuous football the Old Trafford punters have come to expect.

With Christiano Ronaldo at his showboating best, Ryan Giggs in vintage form and the Portugese pirouette Nani blossoming before our eyes, it is small wonder that Old Trafford can almost smell another title.

'Sears it was who lunged at a header for West Ham's winner in the 2-1 win against Blackburn Rovers'


Chelsea, for their part, still have delusions of grandeur and post Jose Mourinho are an outside bet for the title. Despite losing the Carling Cup Final to Spurs the Blues are still breathing down the necks of their rivals. Under Israeli boss Avram Grant, Chelsea are still businesslike in their approach but rather less regimented than Mourinho's mob.

This is not to say that Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Didier Drogba and Michael Ballack behave like army squaddies on parade. But their football does seem to have a more carefree and raffish quality to it. The recent 4-0 thumping of West Ham demonstrated that point to perfection.

West Ham, of course are rather like the characters of a well loved soap opera. With almost characteristic timing, they sit down in the living room, put the kettle on and then shout at each other. Once again though they find themselves in no-man's land.

Marooned in 10th place and going nowhere, the enchanting Hammers are stuck in the middle. Under the likable Alan Curbishley West Ham will emerge from this season unscathed and relegation free.

Over the weekend though, the Hammers Academy unleashed another burgeoning beauty. At Upton Park the daffodils are out and 18-year-old Freddie Sears is the latest East End teen sensation.

Sears it was who lunged at a header for West Ham's winner in the 2-1 win against Blackburn Rovers. Hornchurch-born Sears showed an opportunism and maturity beyond his years, as Mark Hughes European chasing Rovers once again came a cropper at Upton Park.

For those who have followed the club so devotedly, this was another one of those deja vu moments. Over the years Upton Park has seen it all before. Back in the 1980s Tony Cottee became a revered name on the Chicken Run. The Upton Park terraces adored Cottee and when the goals flooded in Cottee was given the freedom of Newham.

Strikers may have come and gone in the East End but the stocky pocket battleship had it all. The pace and acceleration were legendary and his goal scoring partnership with Frank McAvennie almost telepathic.

Further back there was the dynamic Bryan 'Pop' Robson, a Geordie goal poacher with all of a striker's natural gifts. Robson pounced in the penalty area  and invariably scored.

But the nostalgia addicts will always have a soft spot for our World Cup heroes. When Martin Peters and Geoff Hurst blasted the net with almost monotonous regularity, West Ham supporters almost worshipped the ground Peters and Hurst walked on.

So the centre forward's tradition continues and West Ham fans have been spoilt. If the lad from Hornchurch can fire the Hammers into the promised land then perhaps some of us will breathe a sigh of gratitude.