Sam Byram enjoyed the physical nature of Saturday's breathless 2-2 Barclays Premier League draw at Norwich City
Don’t let Sam Byram’s baby-faced appearance fool you – West Ham United’s new No22 loves a battle!
The right-back was at his combative best at Norwich City on Saturday, enjoying an enthralling personal tussle with the Canaries’ equally feisty forward Steven Naismith.
Thankfully for Byram, he avoided being shown a tenth yellow card of the season and a two-match ban, but the youngster is certainly not planning on retreating into his shell anytime soon!
“We had a good battle!” he smiled. “It’s a big step up and I’m still trying to ease my way in and learn on the training pitch and in games, so hopefully I’ll keep getting better and be able to express myself, the more game time I get.”
Byram was heavily involved in what was a fraught game at Carrow Road, where West Ham came from two goals down to snatch a valuable Barclays Premier League draw.
Indeed, with substitutes Victor Moses, Andy Carroll and Emmanuel Emenike adding to the firepower already on the pitch, the defender said the Hammers could even have pulled off an unlikely victory.
“I think it was a very frantic game at times,” he observed. “It was a back and forward and I think we were a bit disappointed not to nick it at the end there.
“I think the changes we made and the players who came on made a big impact. They changed the game and we showed great spirit and fight in the team to get it back to two-all, and I think we were unlucky not to go on and get the winner.”
The right-back was at his combative best at Norwich City on Saturday, enjoying an enthralling personal tussle with the Canaries’ equally feisty forward Steven Naismith.
Thankfully for Byram, he avoided being shown a tenth yellow card of the season and a two-match ban, but the youngster is certainly not planning on retreating into his shell anytime soon!
“We had a good battle!” he smiled. “It’s a big step up and I’m still trying to ease my way in and learn on the training pitch and in games, so hopefully I’ll keep getting better and be able to express myself, the more game time I get.”
Byram was heavily involved in what was a fraught game at Carrow Road, where West Ham came from two goals down to snatch a valuable Barclays Premier League draw.
Indeed, with substitutes Victor Moses, Andy Carroll and Emmanuel Emenike adding to the firepower already on the pitch, the defender said the Hammers could even have pulled off an unlikely victory.
“I think it was a very frantic game at times,” he observed. “It was a back and forward and I think we were a bit disappointed not to nick it at the end there.
“I think the changes we made and the players who came on made a big impact. They changed the game and we showed great spirit and fight in the team to get it back to two-all, and I think we were unlucky not to go on and get the winner.”
It’s a big step up and I’m still trying to ease my way in and learn on the training pitch and in games, so hopefully I’ll keep getting better and be able to express myself, the more game time I get
Coming hot on the heels of a last-minute Emirates FA Cup fourth-round replay victory over Liverpool, Byram says the determination and team spirit in the West Ham dressing room is there for all to see.
“The fans were great and you could hear them all game, while the set of lads we’ve got is brilliant, and the spirit and the togetherness in the group have been brilliant to come into,” he revealed.
“You can see the togetherness and the results we achieved against Liverpool and Norwich showed the fight that we do have.”
One player who epitomises the spirit and attitude within the squad is Dimitri Payet, who provided another goal and another assist to turn things around at Norwich – days after delivering the free-kick for Angelo Ogbonna’s winner against Liverpool.
“He is some player and everyone is over the moon that he has signed his future here and he is part of a very good squad of players we have got and is key for what we’re doing going forward,” Byram enthused.
“We have got a great squad. You could see the impact made by the people off the bench and it is not only down to one player. We all have to dig in together to keep picking up the points.”
“The fans were great and you could hear them all game, while the set of lads we’ve got is brilliant, and the spirit and the togetherness in the group have been brilliant to come into,” he revealed.
“You can see the togetherness and the results we achieved against Liverpool and Norwich showed the fight that we do have.”
One player who epitomises the spirit and attitude within the squad is Dimitri Payet, who provided another goal and another assist to turn things around at Norwich – days after delivering the free-kick for Angelo Ogbonna’s winner against Liverpool.
“He is some player and everyone is over the moon that he has signed his future here and he is part of a very good squad of players we have got and is key for what we’re doing going forward,” Byram enthused.
“We have got a great squad. You could see the impact made by the people off the bench and it is not only down to one player. We all have to dig in together to keep picking up the points.”