Gianfranco Zola will get to work this week with a squad shorn of internationals determined to plot a path up the league standings.
West Ham United are next in action on Saturday week when they travel to Stoke City - scene of a hard-fought 1-0 away win last season - and the manager is ready to overcome the headache of having several players away until the Thursday before. With the team looking up at most of the league after the 2-2 home draw with Fulham, there is plenty on the mind including a firm belief that things will improve.
Zola said: "I will have the players just a couple of days before Stoke. It is not the best but I have to live with that and try to make the most of it. Obviously we are a team that we can certainly be better than what we are. But if we are there it means we are not doing something good and that is what we have to look at. I remain positive because there is big potential."
Although Scott Parker will be suspended at Stoke, Zola is hopeful of having more players back from the treatment room to join Matthew Upson and Valon Behrami who came through their returns on Sunday. There could be a chance for some to get match fitness in practice games in the coming days. Whoever gets the nod at the Britannia Stadium will be tasked with raising the bar on recent displays.
"I know the potential of this team. I know we are playing well and we are not getting points but it has been like that last year as well. We just need to click and the potential of this team is different. I am concerned because we need to be switched on. This is a moment where every single mistake is costing us very much."
Zola was also eager to dismiss speculation about his faith in his squad or his relationship with senior figures in the club. He said: "The squad is very good. I am very happy with the players I have got. I decided to have them and I am going to work with them.
"I have always said that what we're doing here is something we are doing together. My relationship with [technical director] Gianluca Nani and [CEO] Scott Duxbury is wonderful. We are working very well together as we said last year when we came together and we are even closer.
"We have a strong spirit and nothing will stop us from trying to achieve success. The points are not coming in the way we want but we will respond on the pitch. We need to improve because the good organisation, the good play, is nothing if you don't have the focus in the crucial moments of the game."
The manager singled out substitute Junior Stanislas, who hit the late equaliser, and Carlton Cole, with his eleventh goal in 19 league games since 26 December, for special mention and not just for their goals. "Junior came on and tried two times to shoot. That is the way, you have to keep trying until the end. He made a very good impact Junior and I am pleased for him.
"Carlton is one of the key players and is doing very well. He just needs to keep doing that, maybe doing more because he can do more. Everyone is very pleased with him."