Parker leads the way

Scott Parker has urged everyone connected with West Ham United to think positive ahead of the Barclays Premier League visit of Manchester United.

The Hammers go into next Saturday's meeting  with the champions having beaten Burnley 5-3 last time out, a result that extended their recent run to just one defeat in six matches.

While some critics focused on the team's conceding of three late goals to Burnley, Parker, who produced a man-of-the-match display against the Clarets, was instead focusing on the fact that Gianfranco Zola's side had pulled clear of the relegation zone.

"It's a win. Everyone can be negative after Saturday, including the players, but being positive it helps so much. When you are positive and around people positive, it makes you positive and that is what I think. We need be that.

"I could say that it is not the best preparation [for Manchester United] if we let in three goals when five up, but we scored five and won the game at a time when, had we lost, it would have looked not the best for us."

While stand-in captain Parker was happy with his side's attacking play, he did admit that there were still defensive deficiencies that all the players needed to work hard to eradicate.

"It was a strange game. I had a strange feeling when I came in as we won the game but I was a little bit gutted that we let in three goals. The way the things are going for us, we need to be positive and think about the positive things.

"I think that at the moment we are a little bit nervy, you can see that at times in our play. Last week [at Hull City] was the same, we were two-nil up and let them back into the game and then they were 3-2 within 20 minutes. So there is something there with us at the moment. So we need to be strong, concentrate on the positive things.

"We scored five and won the game, but obviously there is a little underlying problem which we need to sort."