Alan: A Point Gained

Alan Pardew candidly admits that West Ham could have lost to Watford on Saturday - but says the players must remain focused on achieving that first win under him.

Reflecting on a 0-0 draw at a Vicarage Road ground that saw many of the 4,409 Hammers fans arrive late because of the gridlock on the roads, Alan says:

"I think Watford was a game we could have lost on Saturday; people say you are still searching for your first win but I think that was a point gained rather than two lost.

"I think that we have to face facts in this division that we are not that much better than anyone else.

"We are in the pot and it is only when we get all our bodies back that we are going to start looking like a team that can go on and win it.

"If the opposition don't get away from us they are going to be in trouble because after January we have got a great run.

"I am hoping with the things we are putting in place now we are going to get less injuries and are going to be very strong towards the end of the season.

"But this is a tricky patch for us I am under no illusions that everybody is looking at me to get my first win, and everyone is looking at the team to start picking up.

"We are so far from where we want to be; this club shouldn't be in this division but we are and we have to face that and get on with what is in front of us."

Alan says that a calm approach is needed on the field and adds:

"I can't ask for patience from the fans, they have been patient enough - but certainly the players need to be professional at this point and focused on their roles.

"A win will come, and a win will come soon, but if we go charging around all over the place we will end up with egg on our faces.

"There are people who work at the club, selling the lottery tickets, doing the phones, serving in the shop - there is nothing worse when you are a run like this and they want a gee-up as much as anyone else.

"The fans going in to work have to put up with the jibes from rival fans - and it is not nice.

"But only we can put that right on the pitch and we will do that, and I will do that, ultimately, in the long run.

"But in this short period we have got now we will have to grin and bear it, and it might even be a case of grinding results out at this stage with the small squad we have got available."

Alan acknowledges that other teams near the top are not running away with good runs and adds:

"In terms of the record we have got in the last few games, to still be where we are we are fortunate."

As for speculation linking him with Swansea striker Lee Trundle, he adds:

"I am not linked with Lee Trundle - or if I am, I'm not!

"He is a good player but I don't think he is for West Ham."