Continuous hard work and self-belief are the ingredients for a successful push to get out of the Premier League relegation zone, according to Robert Snodgrass.
West Ham United are preparing for a home test against Southampton on Saturday, on the back of a very positive performance in defeat away to league leaders Liverpool at the start of the week.
Despite failing to leave Anfield with any points, Snodgrass could point to significant pluses from the game, and has called on the side to keep showing those attributes.
We know ourselves, as footballers, that if we keep playing that way, we will get points on the board.
Robert Snodgrass
“Performances like that are what we need to get out of trouble,” the Scotsman said. “We need to stop conceding goals. It’s not rocket science, it’s the basics of football. If you don’t make mistakes, you give yourself a better chance to win the game.
“We know ourselves, as footballers, that if we keep playing that way, we will get points on the board.
“We’ve ran the European champions very close, and luck at certain times goes against us. It’s hard to play against them when the game is flowing normally, let alone when deflections fall in their path or a mistake happens. It’s difficult but it’s football, and sometimes it’s goes against you.
“There’s definitely belief there. You saw it at 2-1, there was only one team in it. We had some great chances and we should have put the game out of sight. But this is why they’re a top side. You know if you don’t take those chances, they’ll come at you.”
In the visit of the Saints this weekend, the Hammers will have a huge opportunity to get three points on the board, and Snodgrass knows that every single match is important in the quest to pull away from the bottom three.
In order to do that, the Irons need to find some consistency and channel a similar level of performance that was seen on Monday.
“Every game is big,” Snodgrass added. “Nobody probably would have given us a chance at Liverpool. I get that because of they are flying high, but anybody that came to that game would think West Ham were different class.
“The manager is trying to get that consistency in our performance to give ourselves a better chance. Every game goes by and, if you don’t take something from it then you’re kicking yourselves.
“Every game in the Premier League brings pressure. We put pressure on ourselves too. We just need to keep working hard for each other, keep believing.”
