Obinna optimistic

Victor Obinna believes West Ham United's time is coming.

The forward reported for training at a frosty Chadwell Heath on Tuesday after Nigeria's midweek friendly in Iran was cancelled. He is determined to go for goals at Liverpool next Saturday and help the Hammers lift themselves away from danger.

Obinna enjoyed success during spells with AC Chievo Verona and Internazionale in Italy, while a loan spell at Malaga CF last season saw the Spanish club steer clear of relegation by just one place and one point.

For the 23-year-old, the experience of being bottom of the table is therefore a new one.

"I've never been down at the bottom for so long in my career. This is the first time I've been in a position like this, being at the bottom of the table for quite some weeks.

"We have to back and speak to ourselves and try to improve. We can all say that we play good football, but when you play good football and you don't win, sometimes it doesn't work. Sometimes you have to play badly and win and I believe our time is coming."

Obinna was denied what most neutrals thought was a clear-cut penalty in Saturday's goalless Barclays Premier League draw with Blackpool.

The forward's volley was flying towards the roof of the net before Tangerines' defender Craig Cathcart deflected the ball wide of the target with his hands.

While the Hammers' players made vociferous claims for a spot-kick, referee Kevin Friend instead pointed to the corner flag.

"I cannot imagine what the referee was thinking at that moment," Obinna told WHUTV. "You could see clearly he's trying to defend the ball like a goalkeeper. I don't know what the referee was thinking - how he couldn't award a penalty.

"Things like this do happen. Sometimes you are lucky and sometimes you have to play simple to be able to score.

"When things are like this, it's getting bad but we have to show that our heads are high, we are more united and if we speak to ourselves mentally we will win games and we will be OK."

The Nigeria forward was his usual livewire self at the Boleyn Ground, working immensely hard for his team. Having given his all, Obinna was naturally disappointed that the Hammers could not find a way through the Blackpool defence.

With the Hammers still bottom of the table, the relentlessly-positive forward has urged everyone connected with the club to keep the faith that results will improve sooner rather than later.

"I don't know how to describe it, but it was really, really frustrating for us because we wanted to win this game. We had the game in our hands and unfortunately we couldn't win.

"I don't know what's wrong, but we'll just have to go back and speak more to ourselves. Now, I think it is mental stuff. It is no more about playing, playing, playing - it's about mental stuff and we just have to psyche ourselves up, speak more to ourselves, be more united and we're definitely going to get out of this place.

"Football is my passion, football is what I love and it is also my job. I have to face anything that comes out of it, whether good or bad, and the most important thing is that you give 100 per cent, you give your maximum and you come out with your heads held high. We have to give more.

"The game wasn't that good. We deserved to give more to our fans because they've been really cheering us up and making sure, week-in and week-out, that West Ham win games. We need more of their support, we need them to be behind us and together we will get out of the position we are in now."