Repka's Winning Mentality

DEFENDER Tomas Repka admitted that he was slightly disappointed at only taking a point away from West Ham United's trip to Newcastle despite playing most of the second-half with 10 men.

It is a measure of how far the team has come in the past few months, and also the Czech defender's determined mentality, that he believed Hammers should have taken all three points away from St James' Park.

"We arrived at Newcastle to win the game," he insisted. "We have a great team and we are in good shape for the start of the season. If the referee did not send off Konchesky then we would have had a great chance to take all three points.

"One point from Newcastle is a good result because it is a tough place to go and play. But because the way the game went and how well we played it was rather disappointing to only get the draw.

"We played very well on the day and were more than a match for them. We certainly started the game better and in the first-half we had three or four good chances. We controlled the game and even after the red card they did not get the better of us."

Tomas was recalled to the side against Newcastle in place of Christian Dailly after missing the opening day win over Blackburn because of an illness on the morning of the match. The right-back was certainly pleased to be back injury and played his part in a solid defensive display.

"Newcastle have some good attacking talent with the likes of Alan Shearer and James Milner," admitted Tomas. "But they reached our penalty area at the best and there we held them comfortably.

"They had a few crosses and corners but our goalkeeper Roy Carroll dominated in the air and have a very solid game.

"I was looking forward to the start of the Premier League a great deal and I was disappointed to miss out in the first game because of a sore throat.

"Having missed what was a very good win I was really determined to get back into action against Newcastle and I was pleased to be part of the defence that kept a clean sheet for the Club."

During four years at Upton Park Tomas has proved himself to be a durable and reliable defender. Hardly ever absent with injury and very rarely misses a day's training, Tomas made 42 League appearances last season - second only to Marlon Harewood.