Skipper on top at Tottenham

Matthew Upson played a captain's role yet again in the goalless draw at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

The skipper continued his fine form with a commanding display at the back, organising the back four and making some timely challenges to deny Jermain Defoe and the incessant Spurs attack. It meant a second straight clean sheet in the Barclays Premier League - the first time the Hammers have done that since February 2010.

Upson, who partnered Manu da Costa for the third straight match, said: "We defended well as a team. The back four had to do its job, Robert Green made a couple of outstanding saves and kept us in there. It was a good result in the end."

The England centre-back formed a fine partnership with Wayne Bridge on the left of the Hammers rearguard, and he paid tribute to the full-back for his contribution against the likes of Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale. "It was massive, the cover he gave. He made a couple of last-ditch tackles keeping Aaron Lennon quite quiet in the game. He deserved to be man of the match."

Steeled for the fight with eight more battles to come this season, the captain said there was a real team spirit throughout the side. "We have come together as a team a lot more. Our results since the halfway point of the season have actually been quite good.

"We got off to a poor start and we were chasing ourselves a little bit. We are on a good run and it was another good point. It could be vital come the end of the season.

"We have got to be happy with our form. I am positive about staying up, the mood and the spirit is good. We have come together as players and you can see the effect on the pitch."