Peter's Warning

Peter Grant says that, as attractive a side as Ipswich are, they are also more than capable of frustrating the Hammers this weekend.

Peter reckons they have added defensive qualities to their traditional game and he explains:

"Alan and myself went down to watch them against Millwall and we felt that if anyone was going to score it was going to be them - and so it proved, though they left it 'til late.

"They will have been disappointed to lose midweek but there is no doubt they have goals in them.

"They can try and frustrate you, and they have someone that can score like Darren Bent.

"Yes, they are a good footballing side - but they proved to me their defence is stronger with de Vos who signed in the summer."

So there will be at least one man in the stadium who will be happy with a dour 1-0 win.

"I hope it is not an open game, not for them anyway, because if it is you are not doing your job properly," insists Peter.

"I hope I am reading on Sunday morning that we played well defensively."

1-0 it was against Rotherham, of course, and Peter says:

"The thing that pleased us most was the patience of the fans, not just the players.

"For 99% of the game the fans were excellent and that meant the players were not going 'hash-bash' to get the goal, but stuck to the task with confidence.

"We are all in it together and the players were talking after the game about the fans' support and patience."

Peter is happy that the new boys have integrated so quickly and adds:

"I think the boys we brought in give us good experience, and coming in to West Ham United it is important they have played in big games.

"There were 26,000 there on Tuesday, they handled it no problem and they just weren't fazed at all."

He insists that Calum Davenport's challenge on Richie Barker was a fair one, despite the player being stretchered off, and adds:

"Nobody likes seeing players getting injured but there wasn't a bad tackle in the game and there was no malice."

Rotherham boss Ronnie Moore did take exception to the tackle but Peter says:

"We are all looking for free kicks and Ronnie, in the cold light of day, will know it wasn't malicious - and he is not like that anyway."

Although observers have pointed to the fact that Rotherham are bottom of the table, Peter says they provided a stern test and concludes:

"I am not patronising them in any shape or form because I am only interested in West Ham United, but if they keep playing that way they will be all right."