Hayden Mullins is acutely aware of just how important it is to the West Ham United supporters that the club beat Tottenham Hotspur on Monday evening.
As one of West Ham United's longest-serving players, the 29-year-old has experienced first-hand the dramatic Barclays Premier League fixtures between the pair in recent seasons. From Anton Ferdinand's injury-time equaliser at White Hart Lane in November 2005 through Yossi Benayoun's dramatic late winner to deny Spurs a spot in the Champions League in May 2006 to Robert Green's last-gasp penalty save from Jermain Defoe at the Boleyn Ground last season, Mullins has seen it all during his five years at the club.
The combative midfielder is expecting more of the same when the north Londoners make the short journey across the capital on Monday. "It's a big game. West Ham v Tottenham always is," Mullins told WHUTV. "It's always one where you've got to go out and give your all for the fans and they let you know that.
Mullins is encouraging United's faithful supporters to make as much noise as they did at Anfield earlier this week, where a travelling band of 1,200 regularly out-sang 40,000 Liverpool fans during the hard-fought goalless draw. "They are part of the team as well," he added.
"When we are out there we hear them singing and urging us on and it gives us a lift and a boost and it's something for us to hold on to, especially at Anfield with 40,000 Liverpool fans against us. When you can hear our fans in the corner it's brilliant for us."
One reason for those fans being in such buoyant mood was the inspirational display of Robert Green, who produced a world-class save from former team-mate Benayoun to preserve a third consecutive clean-sheet. Mullins expects the United goalkeeper to be in equally impressive form against Tottenham, but admitted it is now time for the team's attackers to cash-in on the Hammers' new-found defensive strength.
"You come to expect that from Greeny. That was a great save and I'm sure he should be pushing for the England squad now. He's been doing that consistently for a number of years so we're all pleased for him - the back-four and the whole team. It was a good point and one that we can go away now and think about the Spurs game and think about getting a win.
"Liverpool are a quality side with the likes of Steven Gerrard and Robbie Keane in the team and I thought the boys dealt with them well. The back-four looked really strong again and I thought all the departments looked really well so it's something for us to build on. That's a couple of clean-sheets now and we just need to start turning them into wins."