Paul: Break The Record

Paul Goddard says it is "rubbish" to suggest West Ham can't get out of trouble just because they are bottom at Christmas.

Since the inception of the Premiership the team at the foot of the table at this time of year has always dropped out of it come the end of the campaign, but Paul says defiantly:

"It is rubbish; every statistic is there to be broken.

"Of course, if you are bottom at Christmas you have got your work cut out, but if that is the case then so be it - it can be achieved.

"We have certainly got the squad of players that can achieve it, and hopefully we can strengthen a little bit in the New Year as well.

"I am not saying don't take any notice, I am saying prove it wrong.

"Records are there to be broken; nobody said Steven Redgrave was going to win five gold medals in the Olympics.

"Yes, it is a bad record that we have - and we want to break it.

"If we can get our strikers back and get confident as well - because you sense an air of nervousness - I'm sure we can survive.

"Every game is massive, home or away, and we have to approach every one like a cup final to get points on the board."

Of the draw against Bolton which led to the Hammers remaining bottom, he says:

"Everyone is talking about their goal and marginal decisions are going against us.

"We need that break and we didn't get it, but there were numerous chances, enough to win two games, and we have only got ourselves to blame there.

"We had a little lull at the start of the second half and obviously Bolton had a little bit of a resurgence.

"Although they didn't cause any problems we didn't quite get going and in the last 25 minutes we got well back on top with enough chances to win it.

"But we didn't, and we have got to roll our sleeves up and get on with it."

As for the responsibility the young players are shouldering, Paul says:

"They are having to; Jermain trying to lead the line, and Joe and Michael in there full time.

"In an ideal world you might like to give them a break - but they are fighting hard for this football club.

"Jermain, a 20 year old, playing so many games, is a fantastic achievement.

"But we need everyone back because we have a really small squad."

Adding to that squad in January is very much on the agenda, and Paul says:

"Obviously Glenn has been working hard on sorting a few things out - and it is important we do strengthen the squad to give the others a lift that new players.

"Everybody knows the finances are not going to be that flush but Glenn will bring in the best he can."