THE message after Saturday’s capitulation against Manchester United was loud and clear. Forget it and move on, we have bigger fish to fry, so to speak.

West Ham ventured out into the deep blue sea, only to be swept away by a red tidal wave.

But they will feel more at home in calmer seas this weekend, as they first travel to Birmingham to take on Alex McGleish’s Blues, before heading further north to face Bolton Wanderers next Tuesday.

It is these games that will define the Hammers’ season, not the exhibition matches against teams vying for the title.

While Birmingham City find themselves at the heady heights of ninth place at present, they will surely become one of West Ham’s relegation rivals this season, while Bolton are already embroiled in the survival scrap.

Manager Gianfranco Zola described the coming matches as the ones with ‘real value’, as he refused to condemn his players in the wake of the havoc United wreaked at the weekend.

But the defeat should provide some worth for the Italian, as it succeeded in highlighting a number of flaws that he will surely have to address ahead of such a crucial week.

Shorn of the services of defensive linchpin Matthew Upson and attacking fulcrum Carlton Cole, the Hammers looked devoid of ideas going forward and vulnerable at the back, despite 45 minutes of stern resistance from Danny Gabbidon and James Tomkins.

Young Tomkins – who made his first start since the end of October against United – and his team-mates were terrorised during a second half that witnessed three goals, from Darron Gibson, Antonio Valencia and Wayne Rooney, after Paul Scholes had given the defending Premier League champions the lead on the stroke of half-time.

But the defender was unfazed when asked if he thought the team were in trouble. “No, no. I don’t think there’s too much to worry about,” he said. “We’re a good team and we’ve got plenty of good players here and good characters to get us out of the trouble we’re in. It’s not as if we’re not playing too well. We’re letting in a lot of goals, which we’re trying to work on.

“Everyone’s disappointed but obviously we’ve got a big game next week away to Birmingham. It’s something we need to pick ourselves up for quickly to bounce back and we’ll be working hard in training.”

That much is clear. The team have conceded eight goals in their last two games at Upton Park, and have shipped more at home than any other team in the division – four clear of Bolton on 19.

For that reason, Zola will be hoping Upson will recover from his hamstring injury in time for Saturday.

The Italian also faces a selection dilemma at the other end, with Cole ruled out until the New Year with knee ligament damage and Zavon Hines joining him on the sidelines with a knee injury of his own, picked up against United.

It is likely to leave Guillermo Franco and Alessandro Diamanti up front, while Kieron Dyer could also feature against Birmingham after making only his fourth league appearance of the season as a late substitute against the Red Devils.