Big Sam on: QPR

Sam Allardyce faced the media on Friday morning ahead of Sunday's Barclays Premier League meeting with Queens Park Rangers.

The manager was quizzed on team news, the Hammers' form and the need to triumph in a London derby at home.

Morning Sam. How do you view the QPR game?

SA: "We're under pressure to get more points on the board. We've played very, very well in five out of our six league games so far. The fact of the matter is seven points from those games is simply not enough. We have to turn performances in to results. I think we should have gained a minimum of ten or eleven points by now. Unfortunately we only have seven. At this early stage of the season you can jump places very quickly. The QPR game is almost a six pointer. We want to go into the international break with a positive result.

"Harry's team is evolving too. Like us, they've signed a quite a number of players. I saw their game against Southampton last week. Austin scored an absolutely outstanding goal. My main concern is stop conceding goals and making sloppy defensive mistakes. If we'd have done that so far we would have double figures by now."

QPR were interested in signing Morgan Amalfitano, how hard did you have to fight them off?

SA: "I don't know to be perfectly honest with you. When we knew Mo Diame was leaving for Hull we contacted Morgan who was happy to jump on a plane and come over here which is a very good sign. He couldn't wait to get back in the Premier League after his experience at West Brom last season. No disrespect to the French league, but he thought the Premier League was a lot better, more exciting, and a higher level of football.

"We hope he can continue his good form for the rest of season, he scored a vital goal against Liverpool."

Stewart Downing is playing well, do you think he should have been included in the England squad?

SA: "Stewart's playing in a slightly different role here, I don't think Roy [Hodgson] plays with a man in the hole, or the diamond. Stewart certainly has the experience, he's handled the switch of position very well. He gets more possession in the position he's in, so that allows him to become more effective. Given his qualities that's a good thing for us."

Do you think he's good enough for England?

SA: "He's certainly not past his best by any stretch of the imagination. You only get past your best when your legs can't take you where you want to go. But Stewart is one of our fittest players. He probably should score more goals than he does, but hopefully he'll do that in the new position he's in."

What actions have you taken on James Tomkins?

SA: "He'll be doing some community work. The bottom line is he shouldn't have got himself in that situation and he should be acting with more responsibility. I don't take kindly to a lack of discipline on or off the pitch. I think it's irresponsible and unacceptable. A player represents himself and his club. Whether he had a drink or two makes no difference. So he'll be doing some community work for us. It makes more sense, and is more effective as a West Ham boy, to be doing community stuff."

QPR are only three points behind you, is it a game you should win on Sunday?

SA: "I don't think there are any games that you think you should win. We've reached a good level of performance recently, I know the result wasn't good against Manchester United but if we continue to play like we did we'll do OK. This game is more important for us than the Liverpool and Manchester United games."

Diafrao Sakho has scored three goals in three games, how has he been settling in so far?

SA; "All our new players have contributed massively. They've all settled in very well. I think the environment we create here, especially at the training ground, is very welcoming and it's paid dividends. I think they've settled in even quicker than I expected.

Any team news ahead of QPR?

SA: "Our injury problems haven't changed. We've taken care of the bumps and bruises we picked up against Manchester United. Anyone who wasn't available last week, won't be available this week. Mark Noble, Cheikhou Kouyate, Andy Carroll and Joey O'Brien will all still be out. Guy Demel pulled out of training in Wednesday so we'll have to see about him. Otherwise everybody else is raring to go."

What lessons did you learn from last week?

SA: "Our lesson was that we didn't cut out the errors we've been making. That allowed Manchester United to score two goals in the first 20 minutes. It's my belief that the vast majority of the goals you concede are from your own mistakes.

What have you seen from QPR that impressed you so far?

SA: "People have being saying that they're struggling but I don't think you can say that yet. There hasn't been much in the games they've played so far. The bottom line these days is what happens in both boxes dictates the results. We've been attacking well and creating chances so far, so we need to continue that. There's very little difference between any of the teams outside maybe the top four of five these days.

"Last week Charlie Austin scored one of the best goals I've seen in a long time, I'm sure Harry knows he needs to get more goals, but we'll try and stop them doing that come Sunday."