Christian's Anger Management

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Christian Dailly says that it was "anger" that drove West Ham on to victory at Fulham on Easter Monday.

Looking back on the Hammers' third away win of the season, and first clean sheet on the road this calendar year, he says: "It was very good and I am really pleased. Everyone has been working hard over the season and it is great when you get results like that.

"There has been a bit of anger with ourselves. We have had a good look at our results recently and were trying to work out a few things about why we are so good at home and why the results go against us so much away.

"I think we found we weren't nearly as cavalier on Monday as we normally are. We probably had not so many chances in the game as we normally would do, but in saying that the same went for Fulham.

"It meant we were more solid all over the park and we could obviously hit them on the break a few times, so I think it worked really well.

"A few lessons have been learned about the way we do it. You have got to take your chances and, as a team, be sensible.

"We have got a lot of attacking players and we want to get forward a lot of the time but on Monday everyone was doing great defensive jobs all over the park - and that's what the difference was.

"There were a few anxious moments. They got through us once and that can happen, but David James pulled off a great save which was almost as good as Fredi scoring a goal, and that kept us in it.

"But other than that he didn't have much to do so in the main he did really well, though there are obviously things we can improve on."

Christian points to his understanding with fellow central defender Tomas Repka as being all important, and adds: "Tomas is a great lad to play with, and pleasant off it, so hopefully we can keep it going."

As for Monday's opposition, now perilously close to the relegation places, Christian says: "It is their first season in the Premiership and it is not an easy league to play in, they are a good side and do knock it about quite well.

"They are dangerous up front and have got a lot of pace and strength up there, and I think if they can consolidate they will definitely be a team that will build on in the next year or so."

Christian was doubly happy about the two wins over Easter because it demonstrated the fitness of those who had been on international duty last week - including himself, in a 5-0 thrashing by France over Scotland.

"It was really pleasing to get six points over the weekend because a lot of us played during the week for our countries as well," he says.

"It is quite hard going but it just shows the fitness of the boys, and we do work hard.

"I did enjoy the Scotland game in a lot of ways, and learned a lot from it. Sometimes there are things you can't stop and some of the goals were out of this world.

"It was a learning thing and we had a lot of young lads playing; certainly from my point of view it was a great experience and I took a lot from it."

Now his sights are set firmly on Charlton, and he says: "It will take a lot of hard work and endeavour and it is going to be a difficult game. Charlton took a thumping from Arsenal on Monday, which can happen against them, and they will be aiming to get one over on us.

"They have done fantastically well. They have got a lot of underrated players and they work their socks off so we have to match that and more."

The two clubs shared a 4-4 draw earlier in the season, and Christian adds: "We've been involved in a lot of games like that away from home and hopefully we can get over that. We have got a lot of young lads and we are learning."

Christian is not of the opinion that the two wins, which took the Hammers to safety of course, mean that Glenn Roeder has 'arrived' as a Premiership boss.

"We just see him as being our manager, we don't think he has to prove himself to anyone," he explains.

"He has organised the backroom staff and is doing a brilliant job - there is not even any doubt for us as players."