Lomas Hopeful

Steve Lomas is hoping that the Hammers can extend their run of unbeaten games into the new year - with two of the championship contenders the next opponents.

"If you'd looked at the fixtures, they were somewhat daunting, but it was obviously a great result at Manchester United recently followed up with a great point against Arsenal.

"There is still Liverpool and Leeds to come to make it possibly the four toughest teams in the league, but it has started quite well and hopefully that will give us the confidence to go on and get some more points."

The key, says the club captain, is a settled side, and he adds: "I think with the squad we have if we can get players back like Ian Pearce who has been out for a long time, Scott Minto is just getting back, we can go on.

"Fredi has had a stop-start season and little things like that you don't help because you don't like to be chopping and changing a settled side.

"If you get a settled team, that is when we have had good runs with the team over the years."

Steve thinks West Ham should have more points on the board and adds: "If you look at the Sunderland and Charlton games you could definitely argue it was five points dropped. Against Aston Villa David James made a magnificent save at 1-0 and 2-0 could have finished it, so that could have swung either way."

Steve hopes to be back at the end of January now he has had the pin removed from his broken toe, and he says: "Christmas is normally a time when you are playing and this is a new thing, not playing. It just rounds off where I don't want to be and the sooner I get back training again the better I'll feel."