Alan Curbishley today paid tribute to the unsung heroes in
the Hammers side after seeing his charges earn a 1-0 victory at the
Emirates Stadium.
After they kept a second consecutive clean sheet, Curbs said: "We don't praise our defenders enough. Rob Green produced a fantastic display and the back four got a foot on everything else.
"We've given ourselves a chance," Curbs added. "We've got an arguably bigger game next week against Sheffield United and it makes everything a little more intriguing.
"Ourselves and Charlton are forcing the issue now. I'd like to think this is the start of a run. I think Sheffield United and Wigan will be feeling a bit nervous because they're being dragged into it. We still have to play both of them and those are big games."
Curbs revealed Green, whose outstanding saves kept the Hammers in the game, earned a standing ovation from his team-mates after the match. "All the players clapped him when he came in the dressing room. I'm learning more and more about the players as I've gone along.
"They think we can do it, the fans think we can do it. But we have to win the majority of our games."
Bobby Zamora's strike was enough to seal the win for the Hammers and Curbs had high praise for the striker.
"We've been patching him up a bit," he said. "He has a sore knee. But he got the goal again and led the line. I think he's led the line in recent weeks as well as I've seen anyone lead."
After they kept a second consecutive clean sheet, Curbs said: "We don't praise our defenders enough. Rob Green produced a fantastic display and the back four got a foot on everything else.
"We've given ourselves a chance," Curbs added. "We've got an arguably bigger game next week against Sheffield United and it makes everything a little more intriguing.
"Ourselves and Charlton are forcing the issue now. I'd like to think this is the start of a run. I think Sheffield United and Wigan will be feeling a bit nervous because they're being dragged into it. We still have to play both of them and those are big games."
Curbs revealed Green, whose outstanding saves kept the Hammers in the game, earned a standing ovation from his team-mates after the match. "All the players clapped him when he came in the dressing room. I'm learning more and more about the players as I've gone along.
"They think we can do it, the fans think we can do it. But we have to win the majority of our games."
Bobby Zamora's strike was enough to seal the win for the Hammers and Curbs had high praise for the striker.
"We've been patching him up a bit," he said. "He has a sore knee. But he got the goal again and led the line. I think he's led the line in recent weeks as well as I've seen anyone lead."