Powell's Pressure Game

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."