Road trouble but Matthew Upson says he can see safety

11 April 2012

Matthew Upson today insisted West Ham are showing signs that they can avoid relegation despite slumping to another away defeat.

The Hammers last won on the road against Wolves in August last year and that dismal run continued at the Stadium of Light as Jordan Henderson's first-half strike separated the sides.

Despite a promising week which included victory over Wigan and Carling Cup quarter-final success against Manchester United, Avram Grant's side are bottom of the Premier League and three points from safety.

But Upson told Standard Sport: "We have improved and we look like we have got a chance of staying up. A few weeks ago, we probably weren't in as positive a state as we are now. It is good that the team can think like that and I feel going into every game that we can take something from that.

"We have had a big week — it was a big game for us on Tuesday and it would have been nice to have kept an unbeaten streak going. We didn't lay too much of a glove on them as much as we wanted. It was a decent performance but we are a little bit disappointed coming away from a game in which we perhaps could have thrown a bit, created a bit more and taken the points.

"To take a point from here would have been a really good result after the week we have had. It wasn't to be so we have to take the positives from the whole week and regroup."

Elements of the spirit with which United were swept aside last week appeared again yesterday but West Ham simply continue to be incapable of imposing themselves on opponents when away from home.

Jonathan Spector was again deployed in central midfield after his Carling Cup heroics and he impressed once more, out-shining a subdued and perhaps unfit Scott Parker alongside him.

Spector's neat turn and drive towards goal culminated in a shot dragged just wide of the target that was the highlight of a first half in which both sides struggled for cohesion in the final third.

Sunderland, however, were already a goal ahead by that stage, with the only move of any real quality.

Asamoah Gyan broke the offside trap to find Henderson, who caressed a fine left-foot shot past a helpless Robert Green from 12 yards.

West Ham improved with James Tomkins catching the eye in defence — his late block when Danny Welbeck seemed certain to score kept his team's hopes of snatching a point alive until the very end. But they lacked any real potency going forward with Carlton Cole and Victor Obinna pale imitations of the destructive duo who did for United and although substitute Zavon Hines hit a post, a draw would probably have been harsh on the hosts.

"The team are progressing and lately we've been more efficient than we have been before," said Grant. "Unfortunately, it didn't happen here but we can take a lot from this game and move forward. On most of our away defeats the difference has been a single goal which means we can turn it around. We are three points from 17th place and we can close that gap if we continue to play like we have in the last two months."

Despite the defeat, there were indications the momentum generated over the last week still exists. Defensive coach Wally Downes, who stood pitchside almost constantly cajoling the visitors, continues to have an impact as there was more aggression and a greater resilience, certainly when compared to their previous away defeat at Liverpool last month.

But with West Ham remaining wholly dependant on their home form to stay in touch with safety, Saturday's visit of Manchester City takes on greater significance.

"We need to set about City with a great attitude and a high tempo and make them aware we are up for the fight," Upson said. "We must set our team out like we have in the last two home games, press the ball, get on top of them and see how it will pan out."

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