HAMMERS boss Alan Pardew admits that Sunday's crunch clash with
Watford at Vicarage Road is simply an extension of the Play-offs
for his team.
West Ham United are ahead of Reading on goals scored and must
better the Royals' result at Wigan to remain in sixth place.
It's going to be a tough occasion for Pards' young players,
but he has been impressed with the way his players have responded
to the challenge this week.
Now he is calling for them to make sure they take their final
promotion chance by securing three points at Watford.
"This game is just an extension of the Play-offs,"
explained Pards, "because it's a game we're looking to
win and our attitude is that nothing else will do.
"In terms of atmosphere and tension, it's going to be like
a Play-off game for us. Our away fans have been terrific for us all
season and we've sold out our allocation at Vicarage Road, so
we're expecting another brilliant atmosphere inside the
stadium.
"Hopefully, we can give all those fans plenty to cheer come
the end of the game on Sunday.
"The squad is definitely buoyant going into the game. The
result against Sunderland was disappointing, but it hasn't
dented the belief of my players, nor has it dented my belief in
them.
"There's a great feeling around the place, everybody has
really worked hard to prepare for this game and hopefully we can
take that positive mood with us out onto the pitch."
Despite the fact that Adrian Boothroyd's Watford have no more
than personal pride to play for on Sunday, Pards is certainly not
under-estimating the challenge posed by the Hornets this weekend.
"I think it's excellent that Watford have given another
good young manager his chance at this level," said Pards.
"I love to see promising managers given their break and Adrian
is definitely one of those.
"Obviously Ray Lewington is a friend of mine, so I was really
disappointed to see him go. But I'm sure they'll be keen to
end the season on a positive note, and the fact that they have
nothing to play for isn't really entering our thinking at this
point.
"We're expecting them to be good, strong opponents
and it'll be tough for us. There will certainly be a good
atmosphere at Vicarage Road, hopefully it will be the right
atmosphere and we'll be looking to react positively to it.
"It'll be important for us to start well, make our mark in
the game and then settle into a good rhythm. The defence are going
to have to stay tight and squeeze the pitch a bit more than we did
against Sunderland.
"If we can do that and create some chances at the other end
then hopefully we can get the result we are looking for."
This has been a tough season for Alan Pardew and his squad,
blighted by injury and inconsistency, without which Pards is
certain Hammers would now be contesting an automatic promotion
place.
"If we had been able to keep the core of this squad fit
throughout the season then we'd be up there with the
top three," he said.
"Our form has attracted a lot of scrutiny and plenty of
negativity this season, but throughout all that we've kept our
heads down and really battled through into the position we find
ourselves in.
"We've not moaned about our circumstances, we've got
on with it and now we just want to get in the Play-offs and then
take things from there.
"This is a real chance for us and we've got to make sure
that we take it."
Pards Prepares For Play-off Challenge
6th May 2005