"I think it was good there," he says.
"We haven't made a big deal of it but you can't disguise the fact that the playing surface at West Ham has been very poor since November - but we have just got on with it.
"The players were buoyed by the fact the surface was lush at Stoke and it got a spring in our step.
"And I am sure the surface at Upton Park will be better this weekend and hopefully that will help us."
"The last time we were beaten at home in the league was 7th January, against Preston, when I decided to make those changes.
"We have actually changed the home form around and it is important we win the game on Saturday."
Looking at Watford, he says:
"Like all first division sides they carry a serious threat as they proved at Millwall; we have to make sure we play as well as we possibly can decent and let the result take care of itself.
"Certainly they have had some decent results of late and we know through experience we have to be on our guard."
West Ham are without David Connolly following suspension but have Nigel Reo-Coker back and Alan adds:
"David played very, very well at Stoke and it will be a shame that he is not playing.
"But all teams are carrying suspensions, you have to play through them - and certainly our squad is good enough to cope.
"Nigel is back and we have got players who can fill the gap."