Specs up for the fight

Jonathan Spector just cannot stop scoring.

The hard-working Hammer hit his fourth goal in nine games as Avram Grant's men drew 2-2 at Everton but he would gladly have swapped the strike for three points instead of one. He started the scoring in a dramatic draw at Goodison, firing in from Luis Boa Morte's superb assist.

"It was a case of Boa doing all the hard work and there I was in the right place at the right time," said Spector, who had never registered a top-flight goal before Saturday. "I was kind of fortunate with that. I was delighted to score but disappointed with the result.

"I was pleased to get on the scoresheet again. I don't know about getting used to it, but I wouldn't mind it being a regular thing."

The fight for Barclays Premier League survival will go on the back-burner for a few days with the Carling Cup semi-final second leg at Birmingham City on Wednesday.

"We are all looking forward to it. It is a fantastic opportunity and we would be delighted to book ourselves a place in the final at Wembley. But we still have our league concerns and that remains our main priority at this moment in time."

Spector, who spent some of his teenage years in the United States as a forward-turned-midfielder, said the team would not be in defensive mode despite having a 2-1 lead to protect. "We will approach it the way we approach every game, giving ourselves a great chance of winning the game. We are certainly looking to win.

"I personally have not played at Wembley but there are a few players that have. We all want to get there."

Spector will hope to link up again with Scott Parker, Mark Noble and Boa Morte in midfield and knows he has to produce every time he plays. Competition for places could also be hotting up in a few weeks with Thomas Hitzlsperger back in training on the Chadwell Heath pitches.

Spector, who said he just fancied a change when it came to shaving his hair off this week, said the team should take plenty of heart from the battling qualities shown at Goodison for the challenges ahead.

"We have important games coming up, winnable ones and we will be looking to take points from all of them. We can be proud of what we achieved on Saturday and there are a great number of positives to take from the game and we will be looking to push on from that.

"There was great fight from the team and we are proud of the way we fought."