Tonks targets Spurs hat-trick

James Tomkins knows how important Saturday's game with Tottenham Hotspur is to West Ham United supporters.

The Hammers welcome Spurs knowing victory would complete a single-season hat-trick of victories over their north London rivals for the first time in the Club's history.

Tomkins, who played in the 3-0 Barclays Premier League success at White Hart Lane in October, is relishing the opportunity to end the 2013/14 campaign on a high at the Boleyn Ground - putting smiles on the faces of fans in the process.

"It's a big game for all of us, really," said the No5. "We need to win to get ourselves out of trouble and, with it being Tottenham, we know what it means to the fans and everyone. It's a massive game.

"The game in October is one I certainly won't forget. We set up well and kept them quiet in the first half, which is always important, and we got our goals. To win there 3-0 in front of the thousands of our fans who turned up on the day, and the celebrations after, were really good. It was an important win with the situation we were in, as well."

While Tomkins and Winston Reid had to shackle Jermain Defoe, the diminutive striker has now departed for the MLS, with the larger and more physical Emmanuel Adebayor and Harry Kane now leading the line for Spurs.

With a new manager also in the dugout in Tim Sherwood, Tomkins knows Tottenham will present a different proposition this time around - one Sam Allardyce will ensure the Hammers are ready for.

"They will both pose a big threat and we know about the qualities they have got, but we're not going to worry too much about them.

"The young lad Kane has obviously come in and done well and Adebayor is an experienced player, so we'll have to play well to keep them quiet. Hopefully we can get a win in front of a good crowd.

"The Gaffer's attention to detail has always been good and he always makes sure we're on it leading up to games. There will be no change here and we'll be aware of what they do well and where we can pose a threat to them.

"We'll be well-prepared going in and we know we need to win because we haven't won many games lately."

Basildon-born Tomkins has been with West Ham since the age of seven and knows just how passionate the Club's supporters are. With that in mind, the 25-year-old is determined to give them all a performance and result to be proud of on Saturday.

"I know what the fans here demand because it's a big Club and we all expect more of ourselves. This season, we expected more than we have produced on the pitch. When you go four games without winning, fans are going to be annoyed, like we all are.

"As players and staff, we want to win games, so we understand that it hasn't been good for us of late. We want to turn that around and there is no better team to do that against than Spurs.

"It's important that the fans can see what position we were in before Christmas, when we were near rock-bottom, and we got out of it with a great run of games and four or five wins.

"It's important that everyone gets behind us and shows their support because we're playing Spurs and it's a big game."