CHRIS Powell admits that Hammers will simply swap one pressure
game for another when they travel to Brighton on Saturday.
Having beaten Stoke 1-0 Alan Pardew's men moved within a point
of sixth place Reading. But Chris is well aware that to keep up the
heat on the teams above them, Hammers must keep winning.
"It doesn't matter who you play at this time of the
season, everyone is fighting for points and every game is big in
its own right," he explained.
"The Stoke game was massive and the pressure was on, even more
so because it was our game in hand over Reading. Under the
circumstances I think we gave a really solid performance.
"We stood up to their direct style, created plenty of chances
of our own and in the end got what could prove to be a very
important goal.
"It showed the beauty of having a strong squad like the one we
have, because Bobby came on and straight away was giving them
problems. He finished off a good move for the goal after Marlon
Harewood had done well and another clean sheet was pleasing as
well.
"There was a bit of a heart-stopping moment right at the end,
but it looked offside and we survived that to get a very good win.
"Now it's important that we take momentum and confidence
from that win and apply it in the right way at Brighton on
Saturday."
The former Charlton and England full-back is experienced enough to
know that at this stage of the season the form book will count for
very little at the Withdean Stadium. But with three straight wins
on the road, the 34-year-old insists Hammers have plenty to be
positive about.
"Our last three games are against Brighton, Sunderland and
Watford," surmised Chris. "Those are three tough games,
but I think it's a run-in we can handle and it's important
that we just bide our time and deal with each game on its merits.
"Brighton are fighting for their lives, they won at Upton Park
earlier in the season and it's going to be very tough.
"But we've been very good away from home recently,
we're on a strong run and that will give us plenty of
confidence going into the game.
"Reading, who are just a point above us now, have a similar
game away at Cardiff, so this is going to be a really interesting
weekend and from our point of view we need another three points to
keep the pressure on."
But Chris believes that West Ham's battling three points at the
Britannia Stadium will have once again alerted their rivals
currently occupying the Play-off spots that there is still plenty
to play for.
"I think that result will put a bit more tension on the
team's above us," he said, "and hopefully we can
capitalise on that.
"We've made up ground on them and coming through a tough
game like the one at Stoke has had a really positive affect on the
squad.
"The teams above us will have noticed the result and going
into Saturday's game they'll be feeling under a little more
pressure now.
"All we can do right now is concentrate on taking another
three points at Brighton and then see where that leaves us.
"It's difficult to see beyond our next game at the moment,
because the situation is constantly changing. But the aim is to
just keep winning, take maximum points over these last three games
and then see where that leaves us.
"Hopefully, it will be in the Play-offs."
Powell's Pressure Game
21st April 2005