Trevor: It's A Team Thing

Caretaker manager Trevor Brooking insists that the credit for the win on Sunday against Manchester City must go to the players and background staff - with help from the fans - and not him.

It is a well known fact to local Hammers fans that Trevor had a road named after him, just a goal kick from the Olde Spotted Dog pub in Forest Gate, but fans are asking what would be named in his honour if West Ham stayed up under his brief tutelage.

Trevor, though, is suitably embarrassed by such notions, however tongue in cheek, claiming little or no credit for the win at Maine Road, and says:

"You get one or two questions like that, but I think it is important to recognise that Paul Goddard and Roger Cross worked for the last few days into the game against Manchester City, and Glenn had mapped out everything we were going to do, so everyone knew the routine.

"The senior players knew what it meant; they helped and rallied round, and it is just a whole unit at the moment trying desperately to work towards what would be an unbelievable ending.

"It is not about individuals; Fredi scored the goal on Sunday, but it wasn't about Fredi - it was about everything that had gone on before that.

"So we move on all together and different individuals will be involved at different times in the next two weeks' drama that continues - more than anything we are a collective, and we hope to complete the job."

Trevor has a dual aim - to oversee West Ham's survival and be able to acknowledge, however long it takes, Glenn Roeder returning to full health safe and sound.

"Glenn is a very popular individual amongst everyone at all levels of the club, because he does take time out to chat and involve everyone," says Trevor.

He knows that the win at Maine Road, and subsequent news of Glenn's massive improvement, has been a double boost to the players, adding:

"The actual euphoria around the place is terrific, because everyone feels just a little bit better, and naturally we want to see at each stage how the progress of Glenn is.

"More than anything everyone feels that, a week later, there is that bit of optimism all round."

Gary Breen played the full 90 minutes of Eire's win over Norway, while Christian Dailly [replaced by Gemmill on 45 minutes], and Don Hutchison [replaced by Miller on 62], were involved in Scotland's home defeat by Austria.

"This time around we have to be careful with all the injuries and with people being away, so the early part of the week has not been too difficult as far as work on the training ground is concerned," says Trevor, hoping that when the internationals return, there will be no injury worries.

"Thursday and Friday we can focus on what we want to try and achieve on Saturday, after enjoying the result against Manchester City, and taking it stage by stage."

* The reserve game at Watford has been rearranged for Wednesday, 7th May, at the Vicarage Road stadium with a 7 o'clock kick off.

This means the reserves will play two games in two days against challengers for the FA Premier Reserve League South title, with a game against Arsenal being played the previous evening.