Hayden Mullins was undoubtedly one of the key performers as West Ham United kept up their unbeaten run with a 1-1 home draw against a resurgent Tottenham Hotspur.
Speaking exclusively to WHUTV, the midfielder revealed his satisfaction at making it through his return to first-team action, having missed the 5-0 victory at Derby County a fortnight ago after picking up a foot injury in the 50th-minute of the 1-1 home draw against Bolton Wanderers on 4 November. After impressing in training, manager Alan Curbishley had no qualms about throwing Mullins back into the fray.
"By the end I felt good," Mullins said of his contribution in a fiercely-contested encounter up that saw him weigh in with some well-timed challenges and also get forward on numerous occasions. It was an important role as his younger midfield colleague Mark Noble was also finding his way back to fitness after his hernia operation, performing admirably until he made way for Scott Parker with just over an hour played.
"The first ten, 15 minutes it took me a while to edge into the game but after that I felt fine and I think the boys got stronger as the game went on," Mullins added. "In the second half certainly we edged it and George [McCartney] had one cleared off the line and we had a couple of shots but 1-1 was the right result." Like Mullins and Noble, McCartney did well despite only just overcoming an knock - underlining the determination within the camp
For the 28-year-old midfielder, team spirit has been a factor in the squad finding themselves tenth in the top flight and contemplating a Carling Cup quarter-final. "[To draw] 1-1 against Tottenham is not a bad result at all. I think we would have taken that. We beat Derby 5-0 and you take what you can. We have to build on top of what we have got. The team is looking stronger and we have got a good mentality, a good squad and a good work-rate. We are happy with the way things are going."