"We have been showing a lot of character week in, week out, but we keep shooting ourselves in the foot and missing chances - so we have to show character," he admits.
"If we carry playing like we did then, and at times over the past few weeks, then we will be all right - the heads could have dropped, but it was a good performance after not such a good one at home before that."
Joe says the supporters at Upton Park will play a vital part in West Ham's survival chances over the coming weeks and adds:
"The home fans haven't seen the best of us this year and it would be nice if they keep getting behind us.
"When you are playing teams in a bad position, in the manager's team talk we will always say 'keep it tight for 20 minutes or so and the crowd will get on their back.'
"The crowd could be a massive help to us if they keep supporting us - like they have been, but even to a greater extent - if things aren't going well.
"It will help us turn it round and we will all do it together - the players, the fans, and the staff."
Joe, meanwhile, insists that David James will bounce back from the draw at Ewood Park following his early error in that game gifted the opposition a goal.
"It was just one of those things," he says, "but Jamo has been great for us week in, week out.
"I think it happened there a few years ago, if I remember rightly, with a nasty bobble in the goalmouth.
"But he is top drawer, the best in the country, and there are no worries for him."
Next up, captain Cole goes to the Valley and he concludes:
"Every game is important now; we have set ourselves targets and over the last three games we haven't lost.
"We need to win a certain amount of games between now and the end of the season and we will be all right."