West Ham vs Southampton preview - Allardyce hopes Hammers carry on coping

Posted Saturday, October 20, 2012 by PA

An easier start to the season has given West Ham the confidence they need to take the points against Southampton in their Barclays Premier League clash this weekend, according to Sam Allardyce.

The club's loss to Arsenal earlier this month was their first league defeat at Upton Park this season, but despite that, Allardyce believes there's a good feeling in the rooms.

"We've coped with the Barclays Premier League very well over the start of our season, also I think we had a group of fixtures that were less challenging than Southampton's," he said.

"We were disappointed by Arsenal, but our confidence, particularly here at home is very very high and I hope we can see the same level of performance that I've seen, particularly against Sunderland, Fulham, and Aston Villa at the start of the season.

"If we can hit that level of form, I think we'll get opportunities to win the game."

Allardyce will shake up his back line for this weekend's match with Winston Reid (back) and Guy Demel (thigh) both unlikely to be fit, while the loss of striker Ricardo Vaz Te poses a challenge up front.

Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin is hoping that such hard work will soon translate into victories after what has been frustrating start to the campaign, with Saints only having four points to show.

"When we were down in League One I was very disappointed because when I first came here it was to play in the Premier League," Schneiderlin added.

"When the new chairman came in, he showed us his ambition for the club, I think everyone knew it was a great club to be part of, to be part of this project

"Now I am very, very happy to be at Southampton and want to do even better, not just fighting to stay in the Premier League but fighting for something else."

While Frenchman Schneiderlin has been pleased with his top-flight performances so far, he laughed off suggestions from some that a call-up to Didier Deschamps' national team beckons.

"At the moment I have only played six games so it is not quite long enough to be called up to the French national team, I guess," the former France Under-21 international said.

"Hopefully I will have a good season and everyone will think about me then.

"That is my number one target, to be one day in the full French squad and I will do everything for it."