The Hammers are hoping for a repeat of last season's
Premiership win over Wigan Athletic at the JJB Stadium and the
winning goal-scorer that day, skipper Nigel Reo-Coker, has issued a
rallying call ahead of tomorrow's crunch encounter.
"Last season's game was good but this season's is going to be spectacular," he said. "Both teams know what's at stake. It's being dubbed the £50 million game. But we're taking 8, 000 fans and we know how passionate they are, so we're hoping it'll be like a home game.
"We've got a chance of survival and all the players believe we can do it. We now how important this game is and we need all the support we can get. West Ham fans have a history of being intensely passionate and they've been willing us on all season. We need them to become our twelfth man tomorrow.
"We haven't had much luck this season with injuries and various other things. In vital games we've been lacking a bit of luck and that sent us on a downward spiral a few months ago.
"Both us and Wigan have suffered from second season syndrome, but we can take tremendous heart from our recent performances. We've kept our heads and stuck close together at the most important time."
Following his injury-time winner last season, Nigel is hoping for a similar outcome but is less concerned with taking the plaudits again.
"It would be nice to score again but I'm not selfish so as long as we win I don't care where the goals come from," he said. "Wigan are a strong side and quite similar to Sheffield United so we're expecting a physical encounter.
"But we've got the momentum behind us at the moment. We've been winning games and we're all feeling positive and looking forward to the game tomorrow."
"Last season's game was good but this season's is going to be spectacular," he said. "Both teams know what's at stake. It's being dubbed the £50 million game. But we're taking 8, 000 fans and we know how passionate they are, so we're hoping it'll be like a home game.
"We've got a chance of survival and all the players believe we can do it. We now how important this game is and we need all the support we can get. West Ham fans have a history of being intensely passionate and they've been willing us on all season. We need them to become our twelfth man tomorrow.
"We haven't had much luck this season with injuries and various other things. In vital games we've been lacking a bit of luck and that sent us on a downward spiral a few months ago.
"Both us and Wigan have suffered from second season syndrome, but we can take tremendous heart from our recent performances. We've kept our heads and stuck close together at the most important time."
Following his injury-time winner last season, Nigel is hoping for a similar outcome but is less concerned with taking the plaudits again.
"It would be nice to score again but I'm not selfish so as long as we win I don't care where the goals come from," he said. "Wigan are a strong side and quite similar to Sheffield United so we're expecting a physical encounter.
"But we've got the momentum behind us at the moment. We've been winning games and we're all feeling positive and looking forward to the game tomorrow."