Alan: We Work Hard

Alan Pardew says that he hopes the fans recognise the work ethic that he is building at the club.

Talking of the changes he has made at Upton Park, he says:

"I don't think I have won over the fans; what you try and do is come in and make a work ethic for everybody - and for the fans to recognise that.

"I feel they are starting to recognise that me and my staff and my players are working their socks off, which we are.

"The Open Day last week was part of that; we didn't have to do it with a big game coming up on the Saturday.

"But all of the squad, not just four or five of them, were signing for the kids.

"It is important because you have to appreciate we are nothing without them.

"Some of them had a three and a half hour wait for autographs; we applaud them for their patience and the kids enjoyed it which is the main thing.

"The players will have got something out of it as well; you cannot underestimate that they are our power and will be in the future.

"It is important to look after them."

Alan is ready to pick up his disappointed players ahead of Tuesday's FA cup replay with Fulham, after feeling there was some injustice at Matthew Etherington's sending off for not placing the ball in the quadrant for a late corner.

"I am disappointed with the result, but more than anything else I am disappointed with the referee; I thought he was weak and meek," says Alan.

"The sending off doesn't affect the game, but it might affect another one because it looks as though we are going to lose Matthew through suspension - it was an absolutely ridiculous decision.

"Matthew didn't understand what he was talking about; he thought there was an incident going on somewhere else and he didn't realise the crowd were laying into him because they thought the ball was outside the triangle.

"I've lost a very good player because of a ridiculous incident and I was very frustrated, and that is why I went on the pitch at the end to have a little word - the ref wanted to get into his room, so I thought I'd let my feelings known straight away.

"He just needed to be stronger - he should have told Matthew not to worry about the crowd and just get on with game.

"I know the referee and I was surprised to see him in charge of a big game like that."

Alan says that Tomas Repka put in an excellent performance despite a mistake which led to Darren Huckerby's goal, and he says:

"Tomas had an outstanding game and he made one bad decision which he is very disappointed about."

"We didn't really get what we deserved when the game was free-flowing rather than stop-start, and I thought we dominated it.

"We are playing catch-up, but we proved on the day that we are good enough to get back up there - I am certainly not giving up on the top two."