Jermain Defoe has denied Paul Ince's accusation that he
'wound up' Middlesbrough last weekend by saying he thought
it was 'a good time' to face them.
Ince intimated that Jermain had made comments that were out of order in the build up to the match, but Jermain counters:
"I was misquoted, I don't know what that was about, but it doesn't bother me when he says stuff like that.
"They said something like 'do you think it is a good time to play Middlesbrough?' because obviously they are not having a good time of it.
"All I said was I was confident of us getting a result, but they just twisted it all around - I wasn't being disrespectful."
Jermain came on as a second half substitute in that game and adds:
"I thought I did all right, but the first half killed it really being 2-0 down.
"In the second half I thought we played really well; we had one or two chances but it is always difficult when you are 2-0 down, away from home as well."
He came within inches of scoring from a right wing cross, and Jermain remembers of a chance that is perhaps typical of West Ham's luck in front of goal at the moment:
"Hutch put a cross in for me that I couldn't quite reach, as I'd just laid the ball off to him."
But he is sure things will turn around, and adds:
"It's always difficult to get the first one but once we do I think the confidence will come.
"We certainly need three points and it helps being at home this weekend.
"Once we get that first win we will be on our way - it's just about getting that first one.
"We have got great players in the squad and hopefully on Sunday we can keep a clean sheet - and we are always going to score goals with the players we have got.
"I'm confident, but how can you not be with the players we have got?
"We have got a lot of creative players like Don, Trevor, Michael, Paolo, Fredi...so many good performers.
"If we win on Sunday I think that will set us on our way, and people have to remember we have only played one home game.
"I'm looking forward to the game on Sunday, but I know it will be a tough one."
Jermain admits one of his heroes will be in opposition and says:
"Alan Shearer is a legend, he can guarantee 20 goals a season, and you look up to players like that.
"He scored two against Middlesbrough the other day and think of all the England goals he scored as well - and once you have got it you never lose it."
He is hoping to add something of Shearer's physical presence to his own game, and adds:
"I'm still young, but I feel a lot stronger and I will get bigger - I'm doing a lot of work in the gym.
"I can look after myself on the pitch, though."
Paul Goddard reckons the goals will come - for Jermain and the rest of the team.
"Jermain is only one goal away from getting going," he insists.
"He was probably one of the brightest players at Middlesbrough and created problems for Ehiogu and Southgate.
"I can guarantee it is only a matter of time before he starts scoring.
"We all took it for granted that he would score with the penalty at Reading and we were all walking down the tunnel.
"It was a bit of a jolt for him but the lads who train with him day, in day out, will tell you how good he is.
"Don Hutchison has not seen a lot of J and was gobsmacked when he trained with him.
"We are all very confident in him, but we don't want to put too much pressure on him.
"He will go on and become a top class striker; his record is fantastic."
Ince intimated that Jermain had made comments that were out of order in the build up to the match, but Jermain counters:
"I was misquoted, I don't know what that was about, but it doesn't bother me when he says stuff like that.
"They said something like 'do you think it is a good time to play Middlesbrough?' because obviously they are not having a good time of it.
"All I said was I was confident of us getting a result, but they just twisted it all around - I wasn't being disrespectful."
Jermain came on as a second half substitute in that game and adds:
"I thought I did all right, but the first half killed it really being 2-0 down.
"In the second half I thought we played really well; we had one or two chances but it is always difficult when you are 2-0 down, away from home as well."
He came within inches of scoring from a right wing cross, and Jermain remembers of a chance that is perhaps typical of West Ham's luck in front of goal at the moment:
"Hutch put a cross in for me that I couldn't quite reach, as I'd just laid the ball off to him."
But he is sure things will turn around, and adds:
"It's always difficult to get the first one but once we do I think the confidence will come.
"We certainly need three points and it helps being at home this weekend.
"Once we get that first win we will be on our way - it's just about getting that first one.
"We have got great players in the squad and hopefully on Sunday we can keep a clean sheet - and we are always going to score goals with the players we have got.
"I'm confident, but how can you not be with the players we have got?
"We have got a lot of creative players like Don, Trevor, Michael, Paolo, Fredi...so many good performers.
"If we win on Sunday I think that will set us on our way, and people have to remember we have only played one home game.
"I'm looking forward to the game on Sunday, but I know it will be a tough one."
Jermain admits one of his heroes will be in opposition and says:
"Alan Shearer is a legend, he can guarantee 20 goals a season, and you look up to players like that.
"He scored two against Middlesbrough the other day and think of all the England goals he scored as well - and once you have got it you never lose it."
He is hoping to add something of Shearer's physical presence to his own game, and adds:
"I'm still young, but I feel a lot stronger and I will get bigger - I'm doing a lot of work in the gym.
"I can look after myself on the pitch, though."
Paul Goddard reckons the goals will come - for Jermain and the rest of the team.
"Jermain is only one goal away from getting going," he insists.
"He was probably one of the brightest players at Middlesbrough and created problems for Ehiogu and Southgate.
"I can guarantee it is only a matter of time before he starts scoring.
"We all took it for granted that he would score with the penalty at Reading and we were all walking down the tunnel.
"It was a bit of a jolt for him but the lads who train with him day, in day out, will tell you how good he is.
"Don Hutchison has not seen a lot of J and was gobsmacked when he trained with him.
"We are all very confident in him, but we don't want to put too much pressure on him.
"He will go on and become a top class striker; his record is fantastic."