Collins: The win gives everyone a lift


James Collins says reaching the 30-point mark before a two-week gap between games will give West Ham United a boost, but says there is more to come from both himself and his teammates.

The Hammers bounced back from defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion in the best possible way by downing Watford 2-0 at London Stadium on Saturday, with Chicharito and Marko Arnautovic on target.

Three points drew the Hammers level with their visitors in the table and had Collins eyeing up further progress when they get back to action at the end of the month.

“There’s more to come from this team,” the Welshman said. “We haven’t been happy with the season at all. Saturday was good, but we can certainly improve all over the pitch in terms of consistency.

“You compare how we were on Saturday to the week before at Brighton and it’s chalk and cheese.

“We’ll enjoy Saturday – we haven’t got a game next week so I can smile now because I wasn’t too happy last week!

“It’s nice going into the break with that and having got to 30 points. If we hadn’t won it would have been a long two weeks until the next game. It’ll give everyone a lift.”

We’ll enjoy Saturday – we haven’t got a game next week so I can smile now because I wasn’t too happy last week!

James Collins

The Hammers were lifted by the return of Arnautovic, following a three-game absence due t a hamstring injury.

The summer signing was a nuisance all afternoon and deserved his match-sealing 78th minute goal, earning rich praise from Collins.

He added: “Marko is a massive player for us, that’s why the Club paid the fee for him. He made such a difference with his work rate, and his touch for the goal showed the quality that he’s got.

“It certainly makes it easier for the back players if we’re clearing balls and somebody’s chasing it. We can squeeze up the pitch and it gets the fans on their feet. He got a little bit of stick when he first came, but the last few months he’s been fantastic.

“If he can stay fit and play as he is, we’ve got a massive chance of moving up the table.”