Jussi Jasskelainen believes West Ham United have given themselves the perfect platform to make a strong start to the 2012/13 Barclays Premier League season.
The Hammers' new No22 is confident that if the team continue to work as hard as they did in Saturday's 1-0 home triumph over Aston Villa, then more victories will follow.
Having kept a deserved clean sheet on his West Ham debut, the Finn is in positive mood ahead of the weekend trip to Swansea City.
Jussi, for a goalkeeper and the whole team I suppose Saturday was the perfect start to the season?
JJ - "It was a great start to the season. A 1-0 win is always a tight one but it also shows that the team played very well defensively. We could have had a little more creativity from the set pieces we won but overall It was a good win."
You were not involved in the game too much, but what you had to do you did very well. You must have been pleased with your second-half saves from Stephen Ireland and Ron Vlaar, in particular?
JJ - "That is what goalkeeping is all about - you have to be ready, prepared and focused. The quality of the Premier League means that more often than not the forwards will take the opportunities they get so it helps that the defence played very well."
You have been there and done it, making more than 500 club appearances, but did you still get butterfliesplaying in front of 34,000 people on the opening day of the Barclays Premier League season?
JJ - "Of course. It is fantastic to play at this level and it is a great opportunity for me to play for West Ham United. I have worked with the gaffer before and I like the way he looks after his players. I am delighted with Saturday's result and I thought the fans were fantastic. Hopefully we can stay unbeaten at home for as long as possible."
How important was it to close out Saturday's game against Aston Villa in terms of the team's confidence?
JJ - "One-nil victories tell you all you need to know about a team because usually when you are winning you tend to sit back and invite pressure onto yourself. We didn't do that, we continued to play our own game and it was a very solid performance. We now have to build on this and hopefully we can carry our winning form into next weekend."
James Collins and Winston Reid were fantastic at the back. How much of a help was it to have them in front of you?
JJ - "Of course it is a massive help. They are two very good players and it makes my job a lot easier. It is great to play behind them."
Next up is our first ever trip to the Liberty Stadium to face Swansea City. They scored five goals last weekend so it should be another easy afternoon!?
JJ - "I'm not sure easy is the right word! When you play away from home you have to keep it very tight. Teams improve year upon year in the Premier League and every away game is tough. But if we are solid and keep the ball like we did against Aston Villa, then we have every chance of coming away with a positive result."