Jack Collison has mixed emotions after scoring his first goal in West Ham United colours at the weekend.
Despite being delighted at having got off the mark, Collison was understandably a bit subdued after the team lost out to Everton in a game that they had performed so well in and looked like taking all three points from. In spite of the late drama, the young Wales international says the mood in the camp remains positive as everyone was back on out on the pitches at Chadwell Heath on Monday preparing for this Saturday's match with Portsmouth.
"It was nice to get my first Premier League goal but, of course, the result was disappointing," said Collison "Especially as we played so well and no one would have argued that, before they scored, we would have been worthy winners. But that's what happens in football, things can change so quickly, everything turns and you are suddenly 3-1 down.
"There was disbelief after in the dressing room as to why we hadn't won the game, but we go will go out again in training this week and put all that hard work into another good performance to get the right result against Portsmouth."
Collison did enjoy getting on the scoresheet, though, and explained how team-mate Scott Parker played his part. He said: "I knew what he was going to do. I knew the ball was going to end up in my path. He just dropped it back to me, it opened up and I was able to bend it around the keeper. It was a great touch from Scotty, but he does that every day in training, so that was why I was expecting it."
After nearly scoring the week before at Middlesbrough, Collison was determined not to miss the opportunity and is working hard to show manager Gianfranco Zola that he is worthy of a first-team place. "I am very happy with the way things are going for me. The manager has come in and given me a lot of confidence and belief in my abilities and now I want to just grab each chance he is giving me, for the team," he said.
"People can see that we are playing good football and that all the players are being encouraged to play with freedom, but results do count, of course they do. All the boys have complete faith in what the manager is getting us to do and if we can keep performing like we have been, the results will come, we are confident of that."