Bobby Buzzing For Spurs Clash

AS a Hammers fan and former Spurs striker, Sunday's visit to White Hart Lane is sure to have Play-off Final hero Bobby Zamora excited.

Not that the 24-year-old forward needs much to get him geared up for pulling on the claret and blue. Barking-born and Hammers mad, Bobby is a huge personality within the West Ham United dressing-room.

And he knows just how special the London derby atmosphere is going to be when the Hammers take on Spurs this weekend.

"It should be a good old-fashioned London derby," he said. "It's a massive game for everyone involved, from the players to the fans. All these matches between the London clubs have an extra bit of magic about them.

"They always mean so much to the fans. Everyone has someone at school, work or down the pub who support the other team. Whether it be mates, colleagues or relatives. It's a real buzz when their teams meet and the banter is particularly special.

"When your team wins it's like sticking one over on your mates who support the other team. All good natured stuff, but great fun.

"The Spurs game is obviously going to have a really special atmosphere. But whoever you play out of the London sides in whatever division it always has something a big extra."

A Spurs player in July 2003 after joining off the back of a goal-laden three-year spell with Brighton, Bobby did not quite hit the heights at White Hart Lane.

Indeed, his only goal for Spurs actually came against West Ham the last time Hammers played at the Lane - in a 1-0 League Cup defeat in October 2003.

But the striker does not feel he has anything to prove to the North London crowd, apart from the fact that Hammers are capable of taking all three points from their neighbours in the Premiership.

"The game is really important for us," he admitted. "It would be a huge confidence boost to get a good result against a side who have started the season very well. It will mean us getting one over on a lot of the sides around us, because Spurs is not an easy place to go and not many teams will take something away from there this season.

"Safety is still our main aim. Even at this stage of the season we're focusing on that 40 point mark and trying to hit that target as soon as possible. After that then we can set our sights on finishing as high as we can in the League, but even though it's been a great start we've not taken our eye off the fact that staying in the League is our top priority.

"We've done well so far, got some good results and more importantly put in some excellent performances.

"But we know that to achieve something great this season we've got to keep working. If we can do that then hopefully we'll have a good finish to celebrate this season."