Upson thanks fans

While there were plenty of ups and downs during West Ham United's 2-2 Barclays Premier League draw at Birmingham City, there was also one constant - the incessant noise made by the travelling Hammers fans.

Nearly 3,000 supporters sang their hearts out at St Andrews, even when their side conceded the two-goal lead they had deservedly built.

Captain Matthew Upson has thanked those fantastic fans for the amazing atmosphere they created, admitting their passion had spurred Avram Grant's side on.

"They were awesome, just like they are every week," said the No15. "Our away support is second to none and it's great to play in front of them. It makes a massive difference to know they are there and that they are behind us and it certainly did on Saturday."

Having dominated the 45 minutes - coming within inches of opening the scoring when Ben Foster diverted Carlton Cole's volley onto the inside of the post - West Ham were two goals up by the hour-mark thanks to Frederic Piquionne and Valon Behrami.

Just when it looked like the Hammers would end their 23-match winless league run away from the Boleyn Ground, Birmingham hit back to level matters through Cameron Jerome and Liam Ridgewell.

Both sides had chances to win a thrilling game in the closing stages, with Danny Gabbidon diverting Jerome's shot against his own crossbar before Lars Jacobsen had his shirt pulled by Jean Beausejour inside the Blues' penalty area.

"I think we can take a lot of confidence out of that performance," said Upson. "We looked comfortable for long periods of the game and when we were on top, I thought we moved the ball quite well and were dangerous. It was disappointing to go from a two-goal lead to two-two, but we have to take something out of it - it's an away point at a really tough ground.

"Our decision-making and our attitude and the way we played the game changed a bit when we went 2-0 up. We started to be a little more defensive instead of performing like we did when it was nil-nil. If we'd tried to go and score more goals, I think we'd have pinned Birmingham back and maybe not been under such an intense period of pressure.

"I thought Carlton held the ball up well and we had some pace running off him and looked dangerous, like we can in every game. There is a lot of hope to take from the performance and I think if we are more clinical and make better choices with the ball at times, we can get some points."

The skipper admitted the Hammers' Jekyll and Hyde-esque performances were impeding their progress this season, with the good football being played being cancelled out by mistakes and lapses in concentration.

"I think some of our performances have been a mixed bag in the same game, with good and bad that has just cost us in little areas. We've made bad choices and we've been punished heavily this season. We need to get back on a winning streak and a couple of wins will change everything.

"The brutality of the Premier League is that, if you make the wrong choice, you'll pay for it.

"We can't say we're not a 'bottom of the table club' because the facts speak for themselves and we are. The table doesn't lie and the points we have don't lie. That's the things we need to change and until we change that, we have to accept that we're in this position and we have to get out of it.

"I think we need to learn from games like Saturday and understand that once we went 2-0 up and our attitude, our decisions with the ball and the way we played the game needed to be different. If we'd done that, we'd have won the game."