Alan Curbishley insists that his players are fully aware of
the situation they find themselves in ahead of our crucial
Premiership encounter against Watford on Saturday.
The bottom-placed Hornets visit Upton Park in a clash that the Hammers boss has described as a 'defining match', and he admits that victory would provide a huge lift as the countdown for survival begins.
"The players realise the seriousness of the situation," says Curbs. "There is no doubt in my mind about that. There were heads down as we came off the field at Villa Park last week, because after losing the game we then heard the Wigan result, and that is where we are right now.
"We are looking at the results of others around us as well as our own, and those teams are saying the same thing. There are now some defining matches coming up, starting with Saturday's against Watford, followed by the trip to Charlton, and the players know that they are must-win games.
"I can assure our supporters that the recent results have hurt us as much as they have hurt them, and we are working as hard as we can to turn it around and give everyone a lift by winning a game.
"All my friends are West Ham fans - the people around me, the people in my family, and they are all feeling the same way. Some have said that we are getting no luck and, while things certainly haven't gone our way with injuries and refereeing decisions lately, you have to make your own luck in football.
"You can't get away from the fact that we haven't delivered results recently and, yes, it has been painful, but the only way to turn things around is to win games. I know I've been saying that for the last eight weeks, but we have to remain positive and believe in ourselves.
"Confidence is a major factor in all walks of like and a victory on Saturday would give everyone here the lift that we need."
The bottom-placed Hornets visit Upton Park in a clash that the Hammers boss has described as a 'defining match', and he admits that victory would provide a huge lift as the countdown for survival begins.
"The players realise the seriousness of the situation," says Curbs. "There is no doubt in my mind about that. There were heads down as we came off the field at Villa Park last week, because after losing the game we then heard the Wigan result, and that is where we are right now.
"We are looking at the results of others around us as well as our own, and those teams are saying the same thing. There are now some defining matches coming up, starting with Saturday's against Watford, followed by the trip to Charlton, and the players know that they are must-win games.
"I can assure our supporters that the recent results have hurt us as much as they have hurt them, and we are working as hard as we can to turn it around and give everyone a lift by winning a game.
"All my friends are West Ham fans - the people around me, the people in my family, and they are all feeling the same way. Some have said that we are getting no luck and, while things certainly haven't gone our way with injuries and refereeing decisions lately, you have to make your own luck in football.
"You can't get away from the fact that we haven't delivered results recently and, yes, it has been painful, but the only way to turn things around is to win games. I know I've been saying that for the last eight weeks, but we have to remain positive and believe in ourselves.
"Confidence is a major factor in all walks of like and a victory on Saturday would give everyone here the lift that we need."