'We have to make things better'

Benni McCarthy insisted that every single West Ham United player is determined to drag the club out of its "horrible" situation.

The South Africa striker's home debut for the club was marred by a hugely disappointing team performance and a 3-1 Barclays Premier League defeat by Wolverhampton Wanderers. The loss left West Ham three points above the relegation zone with seven games remaining.

The display and result led some Hammers fans to vent their frustration at the players vocally, and McCarthy admitted the supporters had every right to be upset by what they had seen.

"It was horrible," said the No17. "It was one of those days in football, but we still have 21 points to play for and hopefully we can get ten or eleven and that will be enough.

"It was not the best vibe in the dressing room afterwards, as everyone was reflecting on the game, basically, but we've got another game on Saturday, so hopefully we can make things happen.

"I know that if things go like this, then the fans have paid to come and watch the games and if they feel the team is not giving them what they deserve, then they are entitled to make their feelings known. We have to respect that and make things better."

A UEFA Champions League winner with his time at FC Porto, McCarthy has been around the game long enough to know that the next match always presents the perfect opportunity to put things right.

With that in mind, the forward said everyone within the home dressing room was desperate to get back to winning ways against Stoke City at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday.

"Hopefully, on Saturday, we get a chance to change their minds. We're all in this situation together - us as much as them. If we can get them behind us, it can only help us.

"We're heartbroken to be in this situation, but we've got to come together and stand tall. If we do, we can get the results and see the season out. When we stay in the Premier League, we'll come back next season and not make the same start and find ourselves in this horrible situation again."