Carlton Cole has said "it is time to start finishing" after a disappointing afternoon at Burnley when West Ham United came up short despite dominating.
The England striker admitted he was still searching for full match fitness after his first 90 minutes since mid-November. The closest he came to an eighth goal of the season in the 2-1 reverse was a disallowed effort for offside in the second half but he remains defiant and determined to help the Hammers get out of trouble.
"I am getting bored of languishing at the bottom of the table," he said. "We don't deserve to be there. We should be higher up the table.
"We are creating chances and now it is time to start finishing. I am very disappointed. I felt we deserved to at least get the second goal. Fair play to Burnley, they defended well but we needed more out of that game."
Like his manager, Cole felt the visitors were punished for a lacklustre start that allowed Burnley to take the lead and build the platform for a victory that meant the Clarets leapfrogged the Hammers in the table. "The first ten to 15 minutes we just didn't get going. That is what cost us. We were the better team throughout the game but that is how these matches go. The start is very important."
He was encouraged by his new strike partners Benni McCarthy, Mido and Ilan, with all three getting a go alongside Cole in attack over the course of the afternoon. "These are great players that have come to join us and Guille Franco is coming back as well, he is a great Mexican international.
"I just want to form a great striking partnership with any of them. Hopefully I can keep on playing in the team. Today wasn't my day, but hopefully I will get the goals. I am knackered though. They have been blooding me slowly. I am trying to get my fitness up and get back on a goalscoring run. "