Seb Not Seething

Sebastien Schemmel says not even the disappointment of getting a yellow card on Saturday could dampen his pleasure after another home win.

Ironically, if his efforts on Wednesday against Chelsea are rewarded with a win, he will miss the next round of the FA Cup along with Trevor Sinclair.

The pair were booked on Saturday and - if Chelsea overcome the Hammers on Wednesday night - will miss the league game with Middlesbrough on February 23 instead.

"I was shown a yellow card for nothing. I had got the ball and I yet I got a booking," he says.

"But the main thing was that I was happy for the team and the fans and that's all I would say."

Nonetheless, Sebastien was once more left rueing a sequence of away defeat followed by home victory, and, trying to explain the difference, he says: "I think it is the fans - it is very difficult for a team to win at Upton Park - as Blackburn know.

"When I play at Upton Park I play better because I know the fans are behind me - and I am another man.

"When you play at Upton Park there are no problems so I am very confident - we have only conceded seven goals in 13 games there.

"But I don't understand why we play so bad when we are away. It must be because the fans are not everywhere, just in the corner."

Sebastien knows it is a problem that drives Glenn Roeder to distraction, and adds: "I was happy for Glenn on Saturday because I am sure there is pressure for him. With this team it is possible to win every time but sometimes the team doesn't have a good mentality, like at Southampton.

"That must be difficult for him, but now Wednesday is another game."

Talking of psychology, Sebastien says it is time for the Hammers to put on a sequence of displays without the talismanic - or just manic? - presence of Paolo Di Canio for the next three games.

While in no way downgrading the talents of the Italian, Seb feels it is time to see what can be done without him.

"Now Paolo is suspended I want to see if the team plays much better with Paolo or without Paolo.

"It is a good challenge for the team. People talk about him every time and everybody says he is the best player they have ever seen," he says.

"But I want to see the team without him - let's see what the mentality is."

Of course, West Ham would have had to do without him for rather more than three weeks had he gone to Old Trafford, and Seb adds: "It is good he is staying at the club but if he had gone to Manchester United I'd have been happy for him. It would have been difficult to refuse the offer.

"But for me it is good and for the team it is fantastic.

"I spoke with Jermain and everybody knows he is a fantastic player with another mentality. I am pleased he will be playing with Fredi against Chelsea because they will complement each other.

"The only problems can be in the head but I am ready for what is a big game for everybody."