Bobby's Welcome Break

STRIKER Bobby Zamora insists the Easter break will provide the perfect opportunity for West Ham United's squad to prepare themselves for the promotion battle ahead.

With international fixtures curtailing the League programme for the next two weeks, Hammers will use the time to recharge and prepare for their final eight matches and a promotion charge that will hopefully secure a Play-off spot.

"We missed an opportunity last week with only two points from two home games," admitted Bobby, "but now we've got a couple of weeks until our next game away at Wigan and we need to use that time to prepare ourselves for what's ahead.

"We've got eight games left until the end of the season and our aim has got to be to get enough points to make sure we're in the Play-offs.

"You never know what's going to happen in the Championship. Anybody can beat anybody in this League and even the teams already in the Play-off places have got work to do.

"We don't want to have to rely on other people's results and that's why we need to really push on and give everything we've got to get points in the bag quickly."

Reflecting on the games against Crewe and Leicester at Upton Park, the former Brighton star admitted that Hammers two point total was disappointing, but did not reflect the team's performance.

"We played well against Leicester," admitted Bobby, "and perhaps deserved more than we got. They scored a brilliant second goal just before half-time, but second-half we were by far the better side and really had the chances to win it.

"But we can't dwell on that too much now. We've got two weeks to get ourselves prepared for another tough run of games and we need to use that time well.

"The matches against Wigan and Burnley are certainly important, but all eight of those games are crucial really and we need to make up a bit of ground.

"We have got a game in hand over some of the teams around us, but that'll only count if we get something from it.

"At this stage of the season results are all important. Never mind the performances, we really need the points and it's going to need a bit of a win at all costs mentality."

This week will see a threadbare squad operating at Chadwell Heath, with some of Alan Pardew's side away on international duty. But that will certainly not mean a relax in the players' regime.

"It'll be a bit quieter with a few of the lads away," admitted Bobby, "but there is still plenty of players around and we'll certainly be putting in the work next week.

"It's a bit unusual not be playing at this time of year, but the break will give us a chance to get some good work on the training ground in before the Wigan game and make sure everyone is fit and ready for the run-in."