Anton Ferdinand is adjusting to life in the Premiership very nicely along with the rest of his West Ham teammates, as they lie ninth in the table with just over a third of the campaign gone. The 20-year-old is approaching 75 games for the East London club and has formed a rock-solid defensive partnership with his fellow Premiership new boy Danny Gabbidon. The Hammers have certainly exceeded all expectations since they beat Preston in the play-offs last season to secure Premiership football at Upton Park after a two-year absence. And Ferdinand looks like he is following in the footsteps of big brother Rio, as he is a regular in the England Under 21 set up as well.Ian Clarkson caught up with Ferdinand in the aftermath of their 2-1 home defeat against Manchester United when the young centre half had come face to face with Rio for the first time in his fledgling career.
Q:DID YOU LEARN FROM PLAYING AGAINST A TEAM LIKE MANCHESTER UNITED?
A:If you don't learn from playing against teams like United, then you never will. They have got players in their team who are world-beaters, so we can take it things from it. It was definitely my biggest test as a player and hopefully there will be many more. Playing against guys like that you gain experience and knowledge. I will look back through the game, as I always do, and check my own performance.
Q:IN THE BUILD UP TO THE FIXTURE THERE WAS A LOT OF HYPE ABOUT RIO AND YOURSELF?
A:I don't really let things like that get into my head. When I am out there on the pitch, I am there to do a job and that is what I have got to do. Things that happen off the field do not concern me. There was a big build up to the game, but once I am on the pitch, all of that goes out of the window - it is then all about playing for West Ham and getting the three points.
Q:ALAN PARDEW WAS KEEN FOR YOU NOT TO TALK TO THE PRESS AFTER TUESDAY WASN'T HE?
A:I did not want to do any interviews either, because that is not really me. I am the type of person who wants to get his head down and play football, because I haven't done anything yet. I have not achieved anything yet, so who am I to be in the press all the time? That is not me.
Q:YOU HAVE SAID THAT YOU SPEAK TO RIO AFTER EVERY GAME AND ASSESS YOUR PERFORMANCES – WILL YOU DO THAT NOW?
A:It was a bit hard because we were both on the pitch. I am sure, though, he will probably watch the game and will say something to me! The character is still there within our team and the next game at Birmingham is very important now. Hopefully we will win that.
Q:IS IT A SIGN OF HOW FAR WEST HAM HAVE COME BECAUSE YOU WERE DISAPPOINTED WITH NOT GETTING A RESULT AGAINST MANCHESTER UNITED?
A:When we play, we always want to win; and if you do not go onto the pitch with that mentality, then you are not going to do it. With that mentality, you are going to come off and be upset - that shows how far we have come. I personally do not like losing and when you lose to anyone it hurts.
Q:WHAT CAN YOU TAKE FROM THIS DEFEAT AS A TEAM?
A:I am sure the gaffer will touch on that this week, and tell us the positives and the negatives of the game, which he does all the time. That should be a great help for us ahead of next week's game at Birmingham.
