GOALKEEPER Jim Walker insists spirits are high within the Hammers
camp as they go in to what he admits is the biggest match of their
season against Watford on Sunday.
Confident took a dent after Sunderland clinched the title with a
2-1 win at Upton Park last Friday, but after Reading failed to
capitalise West Ham United are back in the driving seat going into
the final game of the season.
But Jim warns that it will not be easy against the Hornets.
"No game is easy when you have to win on the final day of the
season," he cautioned. "It's going to be a huge game
against Watford, the lads are really up for it and despite the
Sunderland defeat we're still confident we can go to Vicarage
Road and get the three points we need.
"Watford are under new manager and that always makes a team
something of an untested quantity. You can be sure they'll be
up for it, being something of a local clash and in front of their
fans on the final day of the season.
"It couldn't be tighter and we're expecting the game
to be just as edgy. They'll come at us and it's important
from my point of view that we keep it tight at the back and
don't give them any early opportunities.
"We need to keep them quiet and then look to do the damage
going forward. It's going to be a big day."
Jim came into the side for the 2-1 win over Wigan and has been
riding the quest of a very big wave ever since, as the Hammers
swept into their best form of the season. That has been derailed
somewhat with a draw at Brighton followed by the Sunderland defeat.
But the 31-year-old stopper is no doubt the Hammers have what it
takes to secure a Play-off place.
"It's been a really strange season," he confessed,
"not just for us but a lot of teams in the Championship.
There's been a bit of inconsistency on our part and we were
gutted not to have got the three points against Brighton.
"Sunderland were a top side and to be honest they did very
well in the second-half. But even so, we were really disappointed
to lose and now it's a case of focusing on the Watford game and
making sure we hit back with a performance that the occasion
requires.
"Our fans were terrific against Sunderland. I think that's
what made the defeat all that more painful, because when the
atmosphere on the night was just tremendous. But that's behind
us now and all that's on our minds is going out and putting in
a strong display on Sunday.
"I'm sure the fans will be there to back us again and we
can't do it without their support. They've been fantastic
to me since I arrived and it's important we give them what they
deserve at Watford."
Walker's Watford Wish
4th May 2005