Robert Green believes West Ham United will need to heed the lessons learnt in Saturday's game against Middlesbrough when they head to Bolton Wanderers this weekend.
The Hammers go into their Barclays Premier League clash at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday looking to end a run of two matches without a win, having lost 1-0 to Manchester United and drawn 1-1 with Middlesbrough at the Boleyn Ground in the past fortnight.
A keen student of the game, Green believes he and his team-mates need to start more positively and take the initiative if they are to get one over Gary Megson's side this weekend. Should they do so, the Hammers would secure a first-ever win at the Reebok and could leapfrog Wigan Athletic into seventh place in the Premier League table.
"It was frustrating [against Middlesbrough] as we didn't play nearly as well as we could do. We gave it a go in the second half and, without playing well and not being at it as much as we should have been, we created more than enough chances to win the game. With Carlton [Cole] going off injured, the one positive we can take from it is that we didn't lose.
"I think we've learnt a lesson that if we aren't 100 per cent on our game we won't always win. If we can take that from it into Saturday's game at Bolton - which is a massive game for us - and then Middlesbrough again then we'll have learnt a lesson and really go for it. In that respect there is something to take from it at least.
"We didn't lose and it carries on the good run we've been on, bar the Manchester United game. If we can carry that on and learn our lessons then we'll take each game as it comes and keep taking steps forward. Saturday wasn't the best performance but there are going to be games like that. We know where we've gone wrong and if we didn't know then we'd start to worry. But we know we didn't start well and didn't get hold of them. We'll take that as a positive and as a lesson and keep practicing in the games to come."
Another positive for Green was the second full England cap he earned in last week's friendly defeat in Spain. The accolade came nearly four-and-a-half years after the 29-year-old made his debut in a friendly against Colombia in Boston in June 2005. Naturally, the goalkeeper is eager to ensure he only has to wait a fraction of that time to make his third appearance for his country.
"I was pleased to play for England. It's been a long time waiting. It's been four or five years since my last game so it's been a while but it was good to get on. Obviously it was a disappointing result but we were playing one of the best teams in the world. It gives me confidence that I can go out and play at that level and help out and it was a real pleasure to be out on the pitch.
"It would have been great for Coley to take one of his chances but it was a boost for him and it shows the rewards that can come if you can do it. Particularly positions like centre forwards, maybe goalkeepers not so much as it's the same person every week, but with centre forwards they are always looking for the next chance, that next person and he's willing to give people a chance. I hope Carlton realises it's there for the taking and it's crying out for someone to take that chance but it's down to him to take it."