James Collins reckons that the Hammers' disappointment with Saturday's goalless Barclays Premier League draw against Aston Villa is a sign of how far West Ham United have come in recent weeks and months.
Saturday's stalemate saw the Hammers extend their unbeaten run to five, having taken an impressive eleven points from the last possible 15, and yet Collins admitted that failure to bag a fourth successive win at the Boleyn Ground felt more like a defeat.
That said, the Wales international will never turn his nose up at a clean sheet and so will bedrudgingly accept the point on this occasion.
Collins is denied by Aston Villa 'keeper Brad Guzan early in the piece
He told West Ham TV: "We're obviously disappointed, it feels a bit like a loss but, it's one of those things. It's a sign of the times that we are disappointed drawing 0-0 at home. We created enough chances so hopefully we can take the positives out of it.
"We felt we deserved a goal and we tried our hardest to get it. I think we probably should have had a late penalty on Alex Song. We are disappointed but, again, as the gaffer said you've got to respect the point sometimes when the team comes and defends how Villa did."
Collins went close to breaking the deadlock himself after just 14 minutes, meeting Stewart Downing's corner with a firm near-post header, only to see the excellent Brad Guzan keep it out. The 31-year-old last scored in 2-0 win over Norwich City in February and expected to see the net bulge this time, too.
He continued: "I thought it was going in to be fair. Guzan's done well. It's one of those, I got it on target, so sometimes they go in and I think it was Brad's day on Saturday, he played very well."
While the Hammers then laid siege to the Villa goal in the latter stages, the visitors only ever threatened the Hammers goal intermittently and Collins explained that they were well prepared to deal with the Villans' threat on the break.
"We knew that's how they were going to play," he confirmed. "They're on the back of some bad results, so we had to be on our toes at the back. The only chances I can really remember them getting were from us maybe being a bit too comfortable on the ball and a bit sloppy.
"In the second half, we had to defend for a bit early on and we didn't come out the blocks too well. But it's a clean sheet and as a defender, you're always happy, but obviously disappointed we didn't win the game."
Saturday's disappointment aside, Collins insists the Hammers are in excellent shape heading into the latest international break and can, overall, reflect on a job well done in the past month or so. As for his own form, the centre-half has taken his latest opportunity with both hands and wants more of the same when the Hammers reconvene at Goodison Park in a fortnight's time.
"It's been great. We've got a lot of points, we're fourth in the league, as it stands on Saturday. We are happy, there's a lot of confidence in the camp at the minute, hopefully the boys can go away on internationals, stay fit, come back and look forward to Everton.
"I am loving it. It's great to be back in the team. Unfortunately Tonks [James Tomkins] got injured. That was my chance to come back in and I'm happy with the way I've performed since. I'd have liked to have got a goal on Saturday against my old club and got the three points, but we've got the clean sheet and I'm looking forward to Everton."
Before the Toffees, however, Collins has the small matter of a European Championship qualifier for Wales in Belgium to focus the mind. Having missed the last two international meets owing to injury, he is right up for the challenge.
"It's a big game, to be fair, we've got Belgium away. It's going to be a tough game as they're one of the best teams in the world, but we've got a young, vibrant, exciting squad there, so we'll go there and have a right go.
"I can't wait, I had two injuries for the first three games, so I'm looking forward to getting back involved, seeing the lads and hopefully contributing to a good result away from home."