Bobby Looks On

Bobby Zamora believes that the play-off games with Ipswich will be like Premiership matches rather than the usual hurly-burly of the first division.

"Ipswich are different class going forward but their defensive record isn't the best," he says.

"It will be an interesting game, I think - like a Premiership game with a few people standing off and plenty of time to play until you get to the vital areas."

Bobby had no preference for who the Hammers faced and added:

"I didn't mind who we get; you just have to go there and battle and try and play your stuff - and hopefully we will come out on top.

"We are all focused on the game ahead and tension won't be there for the lads - it is obviously a big game, and we know it.

"We are still on a roll and the defence have been tremendous in the last couple of weeks."

Looking back on the Wigan game, he adds:

"They came at us with all guns blazing as they had to do and they did really well in the first half - their game plan worked.

"In the second half, as the game opened up, there was a bit more space for us and we just played them off the park.

"We got our reward which unfortunately meant them suffering, and it was tremendous for Brian to get one at the end so all credit to him."

Bobby had to face heartbroken friend Nathan 'The Duke' Ellington after the match and he says:

"Nathan Ellington is a mate from when I played with him at Bristol Rovers for two and a half years - I had a chat with him after the game."

West Ham are the only team in the play-offs that have never been in them before - and all six sides that were chasing a play-off spot on Sunday failed to win.

Ipswich were knocked out in the semi-final stages of the play-offs in three successive seasons before coming through in the 99/2000 season, beating Barnsley 4-2 in the final.