James Tomkins is hoping that West Ham’s first away win in over a year can kick-start the club’s struggling start to their league season (Hammers 11/8 to be relegated).
The Hammers currently sit rock bottom of the Premier League table, with their only point coming in a 1-1 draw at Stoke last weekend.
However, the side managed their first win away from home in 13 months with a 2-1 win over Sunderland in the Carling Cup third round on Tuesday night.
Goals from Frederic Piquionne and Victor Obinna were enough to give the Hammers the win, and Tomkins wants the players to take confidence from this victory and take it forward into their Premier League clash with Tottenham (West Ham 13/5 to win, Spurs evens, draw 23/10) at Upton Park on Saturday.
West Ham need to make their home ground a fortress if they are to climb off the bottom of the table, but face a tough challenge against a Spurs side sitting in fifth spot and looking for a Premier League top-four finish for the second season in succession (Spurs 11/4 to finish in top four).
“The lads are buzzing. It is good to get our confidence back and start on winning ways. We need to get in the habit of doing this now as in the last few games we had played well but hadn’t taken anything,” said the Hammers Academy graduate.
“We did it against Stoke on Saturday. Not many teams go there and get a draw. We were able to build on that with the victory against Sunderland.
“It would be nice to have a cup run but first it is back to Tottenham in the league on Saturday and that is a massive game.”
West Ham boss Avram Grant paid particular praise to his front two of Piquionne and Obinna after the Sunderland win. He knows that goals have been hard to come by this season and the Hammers need someone to score regularly if they are to win games on a consistent basis.
The club’s striker’s inability to get goals led to the relegation dogfight last season and all the fans around Upton Park are hoping for no repeat this campaign.
Grant claims the club is making progress and he wants his players to continue to perform “with the same style” and convert chances into goals.
Speaking about his front two, he added: “They worked very hard, they moved very well and they played well together – but all the team behind them played well..
“We passed the ball very well in the midfield so it was more easy for them to find space to score two fantastic goals.”
After the Spurs game, West Ham (8/15 to stay up) then face Fulham at Upton Park before travelling to Wolves in their next two Premier League games.
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