Glenn: Supporters Superb

Glenn Roeder is hoping the supporters can play their part against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday - and has thanked them for their patience thus far.

West Ham are hoping to double the number of home league wins this season with victory against Spurs and Glenn says: "It is a huge game and a London derby. I think it will be a fantastic atmosphere at Upton Park and I want our supporters to be as loud as they can.

"They have been terrific this year when you think what they have had to put up with in terms of not getting the wins that they want and deserve.

"They have stayed with us and we want to make sure they stay with us against Spurs.

"The away support against West Brom, once we got the lead again back to 2-1, was like an extra man and it definitely gives the lads extra energy, there is no doubt about it.

"We will need plenty of energy and drive against Spurs and we really need to get amongst them - and once we get the ball we need to retain it ourselves.

"The fans have been fantastic and I also think they have seen the problems we have had on the field, especially with Kanoute being out of the team for the best part of four months.

"In fact he had the one starting game back in February and he is not going to play again until March so it will be basically six months.

"Without doubt he was our main striker, the physical presence in the team that everyone needs in the top half of the team, and not only is he physical, he is technically gifted.

"Now, the most we can hope for this season is that he is fit and available for the last eight games.

"He is full of remorse and very regretful about what happened against Leeds and it will never happen again.

"But that is the reason we brought Les into the football club, in case things like that happened.

"Hopefully, Les will be able to add his physical presence against his old club. I was pleased with his contribution on Sunday, and I am sure he will be very motivated and pumped up for the game against Spurs.

"Jermain Defoe has enjoyed playing with Les in training, he knows about his CV, and the two will hopefully have a really good day.

"It is impossible not to like Les but the important thing is that when he crosses the white line and goes on to the pitch he is fully motivated.

"He is a difficult player to play against and if we can get some better service to him on crosses I think we will see him scoring a few goals.

"In the present situation with Paolo ill and Kanoute suspended we would have been short of specialist strikers.

"We want these back to back wins; we want the breakthrough and we have to start the game very fast."

Glenn concedes it is a nerve jangling time, but insists: "We mustn't take the view that it is only like that for us. It is the same for all the other teams, Sunderland, West Brom, Bolton, and to an extent Birmingham, although I think to an extent with them beating Liverpool the pressure is not so great on them."