West Ham United manager Avram Grant has spoken to the media ahead of Saturday's Barclays Premier League meeting with Blackpool at the Boleyn Ground.
Avram on reaching a target of seven points from matches against Birmingham City, West Bromwich Albion, Blackpool and Liverpool...
We need to take points and we want to take points. It doesn't matter if we said it or not said it. We showed that we are doing everything to take the points and I believe that we will do it.
Avram on improving defensively...
I like the players here. They know how to take responsibility and they show what they want. We want to win tomorrow, we wanted to win the last game and we will do everything to win tomorrow. That is what matters.I agree [with Scott Parker] that we cannot afford to concede two goals again, especially when we are playing so good. We scored two goals and almost scored more because we created one or two big chances to win.
Of course, we need to defend better, but I don't think we didn't defend well [overall against West Bromwich Albion]. It was from two corners. One came from a penalty that wasn't a penalty, in my opinion and the other came from a great cross that we didn't defend well.
Always, when you concede goals you say you could have defended better. When we are scoring two goals, especially, we don't want to concede.
Avram on conceding leads this season...
First, I want us to take the lead again, then we can analyse things. In the last two games, I don't think they scored against us because they put us under a lot of pressure and created a lot of chances. They were small mistakes and we are aware of this. First, we want to lead again, then I think we will do the right things.
Of course, I'm not happy about this, but then we have had games when we were a goal down and we showed a lot of character to come back.
Avram on ending a six-match winless league run...
It's a strange situation because we don't have enough points like we want, but if you analyse our games the spirit is good and the mentality is good. We did well to come from 1-0 down in the last game. The football that we play is good football and in the last two games we scored two goals in both games. Even before, we played good football.
I always want to be better, but if you check, we played against almost all the ten teams in front of us and they were no better than us, if I may say. I know we didn't take enough points, but if we continue to do things like this and correct a few things, we will win games.
I think sometimes when you are on the bottom of the league, you see a big gap between you and the other teams. You see the games and you say to yourself 'We cannot do anything'. Here, we are playing against all the teams around us and it was so close between winning and not taking the points. If we continue to do the right things, I'm sure we will pick up points. This is our target.
Avram on Blackpool's midweek team selection...
Ian [Holloway] is the manager and he knows his team better than anybody and he can do anything he needs to do for the team. In this case, I must say I support him because he knows what he needs to do from his side.
Of course, if it was in the end of the season and it affected the results of other teams, I can accept sometimes when you don't pick the best team, but when it's now, everybody needs to know that he is the manager and he can do what he needs to do.
Avram on Blackpool's away form...
They are playing well away from home - better than they're playing at home. I must say that this team is not with a big budget but they are doing well this season. For me, Ian as a manager is doing a great job.
Avram on facing newly-promoted sides...
You know, when a team is coming from the Championship, if you see the history there are always one or two that come with a lot of energy and pick up a lot of good results - I think Hull City two years ago were in second place in December.
I think this year all three teams came good, especially Blackpool who do not have a big budget. For me, it's more than a great job what Ian is doing there.
For us, we need to think about ourselves. We are a good team. We were good enough to win Wednesday but we didn't win, so we want to do it tomorrow.
Avram on Ian Holloway...
I like him. I met him in the managers' meeting before the season. He is a very nice guy, he is intelligent, he knows what he is doing and I think there are no two managers who are the same.
Avram on throwing a bottle during Wednesday's game...
Sometimes during the game I also am not happy about one thing or another. Normally, during the game I am calm and want to take the right decisions, but in this moment I was a little bit not [calm].
Avram on being the right man for the job...
I say to West Ham fans to not just look at the table. When we look at the table, we are not happy with the table, but if you analyse the games and performances of the players, we are very optimistic.
Avram on Luis Boa Morte...
I think Boa is one of our best players right now. We have a lot of injuries and we don't like to speak about the injuries because the other players are coming. Last week, we lost two midfield players who are very important to us but Boa played and he played well.
I know, sometimes when you are bottom of the league the supporters are not so happy and I understand it, but I think we need to support these players - especially Boa who has done his job well.