Paul's Preview

Paul Goddard hopes he will not be an unlucky charm when the Hammers face Everton away - as he has been on the end of one or two 'tonkings' there.

The most recent of which, of course, was last season when Everton won 5-0, and Paul says:

"It is not the first time that has happened to me as a player, a manager, and a coach.

"I remember getting well beaten there a few times but it is a hard place to go at the best of times, like Anfield.

"It is a real tough test; you might call Everton the surprise team of the year, David Moyes and Alan Irvine have turned them round from last year and their home form has been excellent.

"We know we are not going to be able to play as fluently as against Spurs in every game and this will be a high tempo, dogged game - very tough.

"We haven't got a fantastic record there but there is a steel in the mood of the players.

"We mustn't get too flamboyant and must realise how we got these last two results."

Looking at Everton's success story this season, he adds:

"I think early on they really dogged out results, confidence came from that, and they improved, having produced some super football along the way.

"They had a pretty strong squad there before but had injuries, though this season it has fallen into place." Comparing Jermain Defoe to Wayne Rooney, he says:

"They are different kinds of players but are both goals scorers with equal ability and big futures in the game.

"I think Jermain has developed fantastically well as a player this year; he has struggled at times, but come out of it a far better player.

"It feels like we have been without Fredi and Paolo all season, really."

And he is keen to dampen the euphoria that two wins on the trot has brought, adding:

"We are back in with a fight and it is going to go right to the wire; there is nobody at the club that is under any illusions."