Paul Makes His Point

DEFENDER Paul Konchesky admitted Hammers had earned a hard won point against Arsenal at Upton Park, but after another excellent West Ham United performance the 24-year-old confessed that Alan Pardew's team might have come away with more.

He said: "We really had to dig in at times. Both teams defended really well, but I don't think we were outplayed at any point in the game and were well worth the point.

"There were periods when Arsenal came at us, but we held them really well and it shows you just how well we did when Roy Carroll has hardly had a save to make.

"There weren't too many chances at either end, but it was certainly a good game, well fought and we might have come away with more if we had got that bit of luck in front of goal.

"But the point was a good result against Arsenal and it keeps our good run of form going."

That run has seen Hammers win two and draw one of their last three League games - not a bad record for a newly promoted team still finding their feet back in the Premiership.

"It's never easy for teams who have just been promoted," admitted Paul. "Often you need time to adjust to being in the top-flight, but we've really taken to it.

"The lads who had not played at this level before have all really responded to the challenge and deserve a lot of credit.

"It's tough to come into the Premiership for the first time and play as well as they have been playing. But the confidence in the squad is really high at the moment. There's lots of self-belief among the lads and that's what you need to play at the top level.

"The point against Arsenal keeps things moving in the right direction for us and now we've got to go to Sunderland and give another strong performance.

"That will be a tough place to go, especially as they got their first win on Saturday. The mood up there will be good and that's something we'll have to combat.

"But we've put in some good performances away from home this season at Newcastle and Fulham and hopefully we can put in another one at the Stadium of Light."