WEST HAM manager Gianfranco Zola has urged his players to forget the team's 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Manchester United at Upton Park on Saturday and focus on the two games of 'real value' they face over the next week.

The Hammers fell apart against the defending champions after Paul Scholes' 99th Premier League goal on the stroke of half-time. Second half strikes from Darren Gibson, Antonio Valencia and Wayne Rooney put the gloss on the victory and highlighted plenty of shortcomings that Zola will be keen to address before vital away matches against Birmingham City and Bolton Wanderers.

First up is a trip to St Andrews on Saturday, which will followed by another away day at the Reebok next Tuesday.

Zola insisted he had nothing but praise for his players after their efforts at the weekend, and has quickly redirected his attention to the next two challenges.

“These are the games that will really make a difference for us,” he said. “The games that have real value are the games we are facing now.

“The players will be all right. We will be working on their confidence because they don't have to be affected by this. The game we play on Saturday is the one that really matter. Starting from then, we have to forget about today's game quickly because obviously they (Manchester United) are on a different level and right now we can't compete. Saturday is a big match so we have to pick ourselves up straight away.

“There was no criticism for my players at all. They played the game they way they were asked to and their commitment has been fantastic. After it became 2-0 we had to try something so we went a bit more offensive and that's what Man United were expecting.”

The Italian manager admitted that his side are embroiled in a relegation dogfight, although he can take heart from the fact that West Ham were in exactly the same position this time last year, when they were able to push on from 17th and finish inside the top half.

“Right now we are in a relegation fight. Considering all the problems we have with so many players out with injuries, we have to realise that that's the situation we're in. So we have to make an effort to get out of this position.

“There are teams on 17 points and they're in the middle of the table, if you get a couple of results the thing changes. It's not just difficult for us to make points, but it's difficult for the other teams as well. It's down to us, we need to finds a bit more consistency and hopefully have less injuries - that would help.”

Zola also moved to quash rumours that the club are under pressure to sell some of their biggest stars, with the likes of Robert Green, Matthew Upson and Carlton Cole all being linked with moves away in January. However, he revealed that he may look to delve into the transfer market, as the team attempts to deal with the injuries to Cole and, more recently, young striker Zavon Hines, who injured his knee against United on Saturday.

“As far as I know we're not going to be under pressure to sell, we will see what we are able to buy but we'll be looking for something.”