Parker takes SBOBET award

Scott Parker has paid tribute to his team-mates for the club's run of four matches unbeaten after being named the SBOBET player of the month for December.

The Hammers talisman took 50 per cent of the vote, with James Tomkins his closest rival on 30 per cent. Parker, though, was keen to stress the importance of the whole squad stepping up in recent games.

"Everyone has pulled together," he told WHUTV. "We have all dug in even though it has been difficult at times. We have picked up some results and we are looking upwards now.

"The young lads have come in and give us something different - a bit of enthusiasm and a spark. Freddie [Sears] has done very well and Tonks has been different class since he has come in. It is really pleasing."

The optimism was especially fuelled by Saturday's win against Wolverhampton Wanderers that took the club up to 16th in the table ahead of the match at Newcastle United on Wednesday. That fixture - against Parker's former club - is a game that he believed could also prove profitable.

"Saturday was a vital win. We can be really happy over the Christmas and New Year period to have picked up eight points from four games. It has been brilliant really and exciting for everyone. We are off the bottom, that always helps and psychologically it will help us. Confidence will be higher now.

"Newcastle is somewhere we can go and win. We are confident and it is a winnable game. If we can go and be solid like we have in the last couple of away games then I think we can pick up some points there."