After an impressive run of form at the turn of the year, West Ham have now taken only nine points from their last nine league matches, including consecutive defeats at the hands of play-off rivals Preston and Reading. As a result, the Hammers have slipped outside the top six and no doubt manager Alan Pardew will be looking for the experienced players in his squad to help steady the ship as we reach the business end of the campaign. One of those senior players is former England international Chris Powell, who has signed a contract at Upton Park until the end the season after impressing during a loan spell from Charlton. Givemefootball's Mark Shail caught up with Powell ahead of tonight's must-win game against Crewe.
Q:WHAT DO YOU THINK HAS GONE WRONG IN RECENT WEEKS?
A:It's difficult to put your finger on one reason, but things certainly haven't gone according to plan of late and we now find ourselves out of the play-off positions, so we've got a bit of work to do. After three wins on the bounce, we have now lost our last three against Leeds, Preston and at Reading on Saturday. We are in amongst a cluster of clubs in and around the play-offs, but we are still determined to finish in the top six.
Q:LOSING AT READING ON SATURDAY MUST HAVE BEEN A BIG BLOW?
A:It was because you never want to lose to those sides closest to you in the table. We went into that game knowing that a win would have taken us three points above Reading with a game in hand. There was obviously added spice because Alan Pardew was returning to his former club and I think there were a number of Reading players out there trying to prove a point.
Q:WERE THE PLAYERS CONCIOUS OF AN EXTRA EDGE TO THE GAME, GIVEN ALAN PARDEW’S LINKS WITH READING?
A:Players and managers move on – it is part of the game and I think that fans tend to place more significance on those kinds of situations than the players themselves.
Q:DO YOU THINK THE PLAYERS ARE FEELING THE PRESSURE OF THE HIGH EXPECTANCY AT THE UPTON PARK?
A:When you sign for a club like West Ham you know there is going to pressure on you because the club has a strong tradition and the supporters believe, and rightly so, that West Ham should be playing in the Premiership. So in that respect there is added pressure, but you have to deal with it. This club has great support and the fans are willing us to get back into the top flight, but no team has a divine right to win any game. Sometimes their frustrations do filter down if we don't score early on it matches, but they pay good money to watch us and expect us to be doing better.
Q:WITH THAT IN MIND, IS THERE ADDED RESPONSIBILITY ON THE LIKES OF YOURSELF, TEDDY SHERINGHAM AND STEVE LOMAS TO HAVE A CALMING INFLUENCE ON THE YOUNGER PLAYERS?
A:I suppose there is because we have played at a higher level and all experienced promotions before. But ultimately it comes down to how you deal with the pressure individually and collectively. For example, we have a youngster in the side called Mark Noble and he is performing really well for us, in what is a difficult time for the club.
Q:WHY DID YOU ONLY SIGN A DEAL UNTIL THE END OF THE SEASON?
A:The club wanted me to sign a longer contract but we couldn't work anything out, so at the moment I'm just here for the next few months. When I signed I had hoped we would be up there challenging for automatic promotion – but obviously things haven't worked out that way.
Q:ARE YOU LIKELY TO STAY AT UPTON PARK NEXT SEASON?
A:We'll have to wait and see. I suppose it's down to me to prove to the club that I am worthy of a longer contract. But right now I'm just focussing on trying to get the club back into the top six – because if we can get in the play-offs anything can happen.
