HAMMERS face three tough trips on the road over the next fortnight,
beginning with Birmingham City in front of the Sky cameras
again.
Alan Pardew will be keen to come away with the points from St Andrews and all Hammers fans will be seeking a happier trip up to the midlands than the previous one.
The Blues lie second from bottom in the table, having not yet won at home, but last week earned a resounding victory over fellow strugglers Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. Also this week Steve Bruce's men beat Millwall on penalties after a 2-2 draw in the Carling Cup.
First team Coach Peter Grant is also anxious that the Hammers keep up their recent form, and try to take away the many positives that came from last week's defeat to Manchester United.
"They're all massive games for us," said Peter, "and the way we've tried to manage it this year is just to take every game as it comes along. Simply because of the fact that it's a completely new thing for about 80 percent of our boys who've never played in the Premier league before, so every time we'll try something different.
"I think the first thing we've done this season is to get every player playing to their maximum. If you can get that you're hoping for a little bit of luck. People say the harder you work the luckier you become.
"We try to attack the game and play to our strengths. You can expect us to do that against Manchester United or anybody else this season. The most important thing is that we try to put our stamp on the game early, which I think we did in the early period.
"Alex was very complimentary of the way that we tried to win the game. I think anybody who's watched us this season will say that at times we've lacked that bit of quality, we don't have a Scholes.
"But you try to make up for it with other ingredients, and we think we've got that in abundance.
"There's no doubt Roy Carroll made some fantastic saves in the first half to keep us in the game. We really played with great energy, enthusiasm, hunger and desire. You can match all that, but if somebody matches that, plus the quality that Manchester United have in abundance. It told in the second half.
"We don't have a backdrop of top players like Rooney or Scholes, we've not got that type of squad, but we do have players who can fill in for each other, play different positions, push each other, knowing that there's not a major gulf between the boys that are in the stands, and the ones that play. Everybody's got to play well, and we're getting that.
"A big change to the game was when Gary Neville came on, Rooney was outstanding but all of a sudden Neville was playing balls into him, Scholes was feeding off of him, and when top players play at the top of their game they hurt you. We gave the maximum in effort and in commitment but the quality we just couldn't match."
The Hammers have impressed most people with their fearless attitude and commitment to quality football, and it was not lost on Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, who also took note of 18-year-old Mark Noble.
"Alex is one for young players," said Peter, "and I think Mark learned a lesson on Saturday, playing in the middle against top players."
"The first thing I said to him after the game was 'That's Manchester United you played, world class players.'
"We're disappointed because they gave us a lesson second-half, let's not be kidding, but the biggest thing for me as a coach is that they can learn from those players.
"If you watched him for 90 minutes Mark always wanted the ball, sometimes in the wrong areas of the field but he wanted the ball for the full 90 minutes, he wanted to play.
"He still plays with that schoolboy enthusiasm, which is massive for us, but he's got to channel that to the right areas of the pitch. Scholes' work was done in areas where it was going to hurt you.
"He's going to learn through the likes of Paul Scholes who've been there and done it. That's what we're hoping.
"But Alex was impressed by the team in general, the work ethic and that they did their jobs. That was important and that's what he picked on more than individuals.
"We were working Man United and if we'd have got a second goal it would have been a different game completely.
"He said to his team at half-time, the next goals the winner, almost like a school game.
"He was right because if we'd have got it, the drive and enthusiasm would have kept us going, but once they got the goal, they kept passing the ball, kept hold of it and made it difficult for us. It was a fantastic experience that will hopefully serve us in good stead for the rest of the season."
Strengthening the squad is a priority of Alan and Peter's, and with the January window fast approaching the manager took advantage of an eight-day break to travel abroad in search of players that might be able to strengthen the Hammers squad.
"We're always looking, obviously at players that are going to be available," said Peter.
"We want to bring quality not quantity. That's one of the things we've tried to do since we got promoted.
"Alan went to a couple of European games in two different countries this week to see the players that are out there. He hadn't seen them in the flesh and this was an ideal week with the game not being until Monday.
"What we're trying to do between now and Christmas time is try and make sure that we're as high up the table as we possibly can be, so we can attract that type of player and add to the quality we have here.
"We want to add quality but you've got to be successful to do that. People look at you differently if you're not in the top half of the table that's for sure."