Glenn Roeder says he is hoping for a good response from his players
when they take on Southampton in only the third home game of the
season.
The Saints, of course have fared somewhat better than West Ham away, while their problems have been at home, so it should make for a fascinating clash.
The squad had a meeting on Monday at Chadwell Heath to discuss recent problems on the road and Glenn reveals:
"There was some frank talking done; there were no complaints, they have put their hands in the air and admitted it was far from acceptable, and we don't want to see it again this year.
"It was a meeting that was needed and hopefully lots of positive things came out of it.
"Everyone owes it to themselves to perform on Saturday now; they certainly owe it to the fans and to the whole club in general.
"Obviously everyone will be looking closely at the performance."
Last season's corresponding fixture was Harry Redknapp's last in charge: he subsequently resigned after the victory that secured survival.
"Last year we needed to win just to secure our Premiership status," he recalls, "and it was quite tight in the opening period.
"But it was only during the second half that we got the breakthrough and ended winning comfortably - but the scoreline didn't tell the whole story.
"The season did finish in the nick of time because we were really scrambling to get the points required - which thankfully we did."
Now West Ham are firmly entrenched in the relegation zone and Glenn adds:
"We need a good victory at home; our two performances at there have been very good, so I'm looking at another one and the right result.
"Things aren't achieved overnight; it takes time to turn them around, but in football you are not allowed the time you need.
"It is during those times that you need to be a little fortunate and if there is any fortune going I hope it comes our way.
"Southampton always provide tough opposition and physically they are a threat on set plays and in the air in general with Kevin Davies and James Beattie."
Talking of the fact that West Ham have conceded 12 goals in two consecutive games - the first time that has happened since 1932 - Glenn adds:
"First goals are critical and we gave away a bad goal in injury time at Everton, then we had a horrific second half.
"At Blackburn we should have cleared our lines for the first goal.
"I think on our travels when we have gone a goal behind, we have suffered mentally; we have got to be a lot stronger and mentally resilient away.
"We have played well at Upton Park and haven't conceded a goal and that's what I'm looking for again.
"Overall I have felt the boys have trained well and enjoyed their training but it is obviously misplaced judgment, because it has happened three times now on our travels."
Glenn rejects accusations that he has looked for others to blame for recent results.
In fact, he has been nothing but honest about the club's predicament.
"I'm not one to make excuses, and I wouldn't dream of doing that," he says.
But one injury in particular, has hit him hard, and he adds:
"It is stating a fact to say that David James has not played competitively in a West Ham shirt."
Glenn says Grant McCann has had a good week of training to banish the memory of his own goal on Sunday.
It killed the game off to make it 4-1, but Glenn says:
"If he has a long and successful career, which I hope he does, it won't be the last time he puts through his own net - but let's hope it is a long time.
"He has been fine in training this week."
Rigobert Song remains out of the first team picture because of an ankle injury, but he has resumed light training.
Nigel Winterburn returns after a back problem, and Laurent Courtois could return to the side after being left out last weekend.
SQUAD: Hislop, Schemmel, Repka, Dailly, Winterburn, Sinclair, Hutchison, Carrick, Courtois, Bywater, Di Canio, Kanoute, Defoe, Kitson, Moncur, Foxe, Potts, Minto, Lomas.
* The reserve game with Chelsea has been put back from Tuesday 30th to Wednesday 31st October.
The Saints, of course have fared somewhat better than West Ham away, while their problems have been at home, so it should make for a fascinating clash.
The squad had a meeting on Monday at Chadwell Heath to discuss recent problems on the road and Glenn reveals:
"There was some frank talking done; there were no complaints, they have put their hands in the air and admitted it was far from acceptable, and we don't want to see it again this year.
"It was a meeting that was needed and hopefully lots of positive things came out of it.
"Everyone owes it to themselves to perform on Saturday now; they certainly owe it to the fans and to the whole club in general.
"Obviously everyone will be looking closely at the performance."
Last season's corresponding fixture was Harry Redknapp's last in charge: he subsequently resigned after the victory that secured survival.
"Last year we needed to win just to secure our Premiership status," he recalls, "and it was quite tight in the opening period.
"But it was only during the second half that we got the breakthrough and ended winning comfortably - but the scoreline didn't tell the whole story.
"The season did finish in the nick of time because we were really scrambling to get the points required - which thankfully we did."
Now West Ham are firmly entrenched in the relegation zone and Glenn adds:
"We need a good victory at home; our two performances at there have been very good, so I'm looking at another one and the right result.
"Things aren't achieved overnight; it takes time to turn them around, but in football you are not allowed the time you need.
"It is during those times that you need to be a little fortunate and if there is any fortune going I hope it comes our way.
"Southampton always provide tough opposition and physically they are a threat on set plays and in the air in general with Kevin Davies and James Beattie."
Talking of the fact that West Ham have conceded 12 goals in two consecutive games - the first time that has happened since 1932 - Glenn adds:
"First goals are critical and we gave away a bad goal in injury time at Everton, then we had a horrific second half.
"At Blackburn we should have cleared our lines for the first goal.
"I think on our travels when we have gone a goal behind, we have suffered mentally; we have got to be a lot stronger and mentally resilient away.
"We have played well at Upton Park and haven't conceded a goal and that's what I'm looking for again.
"Overall I have felt the boys have trained well and enjoyed their training but it is obviously misplaced judgment, because it has happened three times now on our travels."
Glenn rejects accusations that he has looked for others to blame for recent results.
In fact, he has been nothing but honest about the club's predicament.
"I'm not one to make excuses, and I wouldn't dream of doing that," he says.
But one injury in particular, has hit him hard, and he adds:
"It is stating a fact to say that David James has not played competitively in a West Ham shirt."
Glenn says Grant McCann has had a good week of training to banish the memory of his own goal on Sunday.
It killed the game off to make it 4-1, but Glenn says:
"If he has a long and successful career, which I hope he does, it won't be the last time he puts through his own net - but let's hope it is a long time.
"He has been fine in training this week."
Rigobert Song remains out of the first team picture because of an ankle injury, but he has resumed light training.
Nigel Winterburn returns after a back problem, and Laurent Courtois could return to the side after being left out last weekend.
SQUAD: Hislop, Schemmel, Repka, Dailly, Winterburn, Sinclair, Hutchison, Carrick, Courtois, Bywater, Di Canio, Kanoute, Defoe, Kitson, Moncur, Foxe, Potts, Minto, Lomas.
* The reserve game with Chelsea has been put back from Tuesday 30th to Wednesday 31st October.