Unsworth: Don't Worry

David Unsworth says West Ham gave his victorious Everton team a tough time of it on Sunday - and insists the Hammers will not continue to struggle.

Indeed, the defender who has made over 250 appearances for Everton is rather hoping the Hammers can put one over on Liverpool on Saturday!

David, who helped West Ham to eighth place when he was at the club five years ago, does not feel his former team are a club in crisis.

"I don't think a lot is wrong; maybe they are lacking a bit of spark but they had two good wins before that. "A few more back to back wins like that and the Hammers will be fine.

"It was a tough game for us, and about 50/50 in terms of possession and chances.

"I think they have just got to grind out a couple of results and it doesn't matter how they do it, whether it is scrappy or fantastic.

"Then the confidence will come - but I don't think West Ham will have any problems."

Of his own team, and his own team's performance, on Sunday, he reflects:

"We are very pleased; it was a good, professional victory for us which we ground out - it was a long way to come in not great conditions.

"As soon as we scored we went to a five at the back and shut the midfield up, but West Ham had a lot of pressure in the last 10 minutes, which was expected because a team that goes 1-0 down always puts you under a bit of pressure.

"But we hung on in there and we ground it out - and Richard Wright took some good crosses.

"We are doing great this season and the new manager and staff coming in has given everyone a lift."

He admits that he felt a little lucky to have created the winning goal for Everton against his old side he says:

"It was just a ball in the box, and I thought I had overhit it, but it came down with the wind and Lee Carsley attacked it to finish off at the back post quite nicely."

At least David James, a former Liverpool keeper, is feeling positive about life despite failing to keep a third clean sheet in a row and he says:

"I've felt a lot more sharp in the last three games for West Ham - and that is how it has got to be because I am concentrating more and really working on all aspects of my game.

"As far as England is concerned the next game is not until February, so my focus at the moment is on continuing to help West Ham improve and I have three or four months in which to play as well as I can as far as that is concerned.

"But it is not my problem that some people have been saying there is no one to challenge David Seaman; I can only do what I can do - and the only opinion that matters is that of the England manager.

"What matters is our home form - and it has to change quickly because we've got some big games coming up.

"We should have carried on the form we showed in our last three away games at Chelsea, Sunderland and Fulham and there's no logical reason for our failure to do that."