West Ham’s Angelo Ogbonna says Adrian is showing why he ‘deserves’ to start in goal

Angelo Ogbonna believes Adrian has proven why he deserves to start in goal for West Ham, but praised Joe Hart's professionalism after losing his place in the team.

Hart had started every Premier League game for West Ham until the club's trip to face his parent side Manchester City. His ineligibility to play due to the particulars of his loan agreement saw Adrian deputise at the Etihad Stadium.

Adrian impressed as the Hammers fell to a late 2-1 defeat at the champions elect, and his performance was rewarded when David Moyes named him in the starting line-up to face Chelsea the following week. One clean sheet, a string of fines saves and three points later, the 30-year-old had earned his place in the side.

The Spaniard impressed again in the draw with Arsenal, making a crucial save to keep out Alexis Sanchez's 74th-minute free kick, as he kept his second consecutive clean sheet.

"His quality is improving,” Obgonna told Standard Sport. “Since the manager came, everybody wants to do better than before. Adrian is doing really well, and he deserves it.

"He waited his time but we (have) got Hart as well and he'll fight for his place too. It's good to have professional players like them."

West Ham have now taken four points from their last two Premier League games - all three against Chelsea and one against Arsenal, which has coincided with a switch from a four to a five-man defence.

Moyes set up his team in this manner against Manchester City, and Ogbonna admits the change in West Ham's shape has made their back line feel more comfortable.

"We've changed our shape, and when he [Moyes] came he put some basic rules for us [in place]. It's better if you follow the rules.

"[He told us] don't concede! When you talk to each other it's much better and we changed from four at the back to five.

"It's much more comfortable for us [now]. We worked two or three days a week, when we get time, to improve."

Despite beating Chelsea and securing a draw against Arsenal, West Ham still sit in the drop zone.

But Ogbonna isn't thinking about the threat of relegation yet, insisting the team are focusing only on their next game which will be away to Stoke on Saturday.

"We were a bit unlucky because if Chicharito had scored, we would have gotten a really good result," he said.

"The way we approached this game was much different than before. It is really good to have this attitude. We'll see, maybe in the next game [away to Stoke] we'll get the three points.

"We have to think game by game. It's not about relegation. It's too far [off] to think about that. We have to concentrate, step by step. That can help us."

He added: "Since the manager came, the fans showed themselves to be really good. Maybe there was a time when we didn't have the ball and kept playing long balls. Now the fans understand, they are all behind us."

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