WEST HAM number two Steve Clarke has vowed to give the fans their 'first home win' of the season against Aston Villa tonight.
The Hammers have picked up just two points from their first four games at Upton Park this season. Defeats against Tottenham and Liverpool was followed by a disappointing draw with Fulham. But the comeback against Arsenal, when the team came back from two goals down to earn a point, will give the team plenty of momentum heading into this evening's clash, according to Clarke.
“We are going to give the fans our first home win,' the former Chelsea defender promised. “We are gong to give them the win they want. They have a good memory of the finish of the Arsenal game where we finished strongly.
“They are going to take us into those two matches and they are going to push us to the win that we need.
“It's important we get a win sooner rather than later so tomorrow night is a terrific chance for us.”
After a tricky opening schedule that has seen the club play six away fixtures, West Ham have the chance to put that right with successive home games against Villa and Everton (on Sunday).
However, they will have to shore up their defence if they are to take maximum points from the two matches.
The Hammers have shipped 17 goals in 10 games so far this season – a record Clarke knows the team must put right.
“We have conceded 14 goals in the last six games - that's too many and we know that,” he added. “We are working as hard as we can to address that. Confidence is one of the reasons. If you aren't winning matches, confidence goes.
“You become over-anxious to win, and you can leave yourself a little bit open. Last year, we maybe didn't score as many goals as we should have done but we had a more solid foundation. You have to find the balance.”
West Ham will be without midfielder Radoslav Kovac for the visit of Martin O'Neill's side, following his dismissal at Sunderland last week.
Long-term absentees Dean Ashton and Luis Boa Morte remain sidelined, while Kieron Dyer is also unavailable after suffering a setback in his rehabilitation.
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