Alvin - Let's Stick Together

Former Upton Park legend Alvin Martin has spoken exclusively to the www.whufc.com newsletter as Hammers prepare for a must-win match against Southampton on Saturday and insists that the only way to move on from Sunday's humiliation at Blackburn is for everyone connected with the club to put it behind them and look forward.

The ex-England defender watched in horror as the Hammers crashed to a 7-1 defeat at Ewood Park and, as someone who fought in a number of relegation battles during his 21-year career at Upton Park, is in no doubt as to how the team should react in such a situation.

Says Alvin: "After a result like Sunday's, you look for people to take responsibility and stand up and be counted.

"The performance at Blackburn was hurtful beyond all recognition, hurtful to the fans, hurtful to the management, hurtful to the board and, I hope, hurtful to the players.

"Now is a time to be positive. Everybody connected with the club, the fans, the management, the players, the staff, must put that result behind them, totally disreguard it. There is nothing to be gained from that game, apart from a hard lesson.

"The players themselves can't dwell on it, because that will only hinder them against Southampton on Saturday. It's no use blaming anyone, there can't be any negative thoughts because, if there's one thing I learnt while a player, it was never to look back to the past - you can't change it.

"All that matters now is going out against Southampton and giving a performance that restores some pride among the fans and secures three points.

"The players have got to go out there, show a lot more effort, pressure the ball wherever it is on the pitch and be united as a team. Everyone has got to have courage and be totally positive."

Alvin also acknowledged the role that the crowd will play at Upton Park this coming Saturday and knows what they will expect from their team once the first whistle blows at 3.00pm.

"The players will know that they can't do it without the crowd behind them and, for that reason, they have got to prove their commitment early on.

"They've got to understand that not all of the crowd will be entirely supportive to start with - they will be waiting for something to happen, and looking for signs that the players are busting a gut.

"If the fans see them doing all they can for the team, giving 100% and working hard to win every ball, then they will get behind them, because West Ham supporters will always support you if you are sweating blood for the team.

"Once the crowd get behind them, players like Paolo Di Canio and Trevor Sinclair will find the confidence and strength to rip defences apart in the way that they can.

"I'm certain that Glenn will stress those kind of things to the players before they go out there on Saturday and, as long as they stay focused on the task and put the effort in, things will turn around."