Victory Needed!

The Hammers management are looking for the one win against Leeds that will totally banish thoughts of relegation.

Despite old boy Rio Ferdinand's assertion that his former team mates are safe, Frank Lampard says: "We need a win to make sure of things - against one of the best sides in the country, if not THE best.

"But we beat them at Elland Road and we want to do the double over them."

Although West Ham have not achieved a home and away win over the same team this season, the remaining four matches all provide the opportunity to do so - starting with Leeds. But Frank knows it will be a tall order and admits: "They have done marvellously and to follow their footsteps would be fantastic, and that has to be the ambition.

"That said, they have done a bit of money and it's harder, like in any business, if you haven't got so much money to spend."

The focus, of course, is on the return of Rio and Frank says: "Rio has gone there and done well - I've known him since he was a kid so I know his strengths and weaknesses!

"From what I've seen he has matured on and off the field; it was a brave move for him to go up there.

"He has always had it in him, it was just about having the stage to bring it out on and that is what he has done. I felt as time went on he would mature in that position he plays.

"He'll get a good reception, no problem, but let's hope we can dampen it a bit by getting the right result for us. If we play like we did at Newcastle on Monday though, we might as well all go home.

"We owe them a game at home, where our form hasn't been good, and we hope to build on the first half against Derby."

Plans are afoot to delve further into the Rio money in the summer and Frank says: "It's up to us to see what we can come up with; we have one or two things in our mind.

"We've had a bit of a slump in the second half of the season, that's been well documented.

"I've supported Leeds in Europe but as far as Saturday goes it all goes out the window."

As if to rub salt into the wounds, winter target Robbie Keane will be back for Leeds to show what West Ham are missing out on.

"Keane will be up there with Viduka," says Frank, "and he is one of a number of good players in their side.

"The reports we've had is that they play a high tempo game so we'll have to match that."

Does Frank wonder what might have been, if Keane had joined and Rio stayed?

"There are other players we have looked at as well that don't get out in the press but sometimes it's too much money or they are not available."

Frank, who denies West Ham interest in Jan Koller, also says the crop of trial players recently at Chadwell Heath have "not particularly impressed, to be truthful."

Of the injury situation, he says: "Paolo is OK and we'll see how Fredi is in on the day.

"Foxey is back; he did well in the game he played the other day and I think he is going to be a decent player so if he can get a couple of games in before the end of the season so much the better."

Two players have signed contracts this week and Frank comments: "It is nice that John Moncur has got sorted out for another year and although he is in the twilight of his career he has done well for us. Michael Carrick is just starting his career; he will carry on learning."

Frank, incidentally, is full of praise for the under-14s who won their tournament earlier in the week and says:

"There are some good little players coming through, and once you set standards like we have you have to keep producing.

"Harry and I try to keep as hands on as we can, maybe because we came through the system ourselves."

*There will be no preview with Harry Redknapp this week, following the sad death of his mother Violet on Thursday. The thoughts of everyone at the club are with him and his family.