Having started the season with fixtures against sides that they would perhaps rather have come up against later in the year, West Ham are now finally starting a run of games that will allow them to get some points on the board and propel themselves up the table.

With youngster Freddie Sears heading away from the club in order to gain some experience, and manager Avram Grant now fully aware of the talents that his squad possess, as well as the areas that need to be improved over the next few months, West Ham can hopefully now start to think about the long term, rather than looking over their shoulder at the dreaded drop down into the Championship and all the repercussions that could bring. Fortunately, the West Ham betting suggests they will be able to drag themselves clear of the drop zone.

However, with the club not receiving the luck that they needed to defeat Wolves (following a refereeing decision that can be deemed questionable at best), they will need the likes of Carlton Cole back fit and firing if they are to be a side capable of truly forgetting the worries of relegation. With Wigan, Wolves and Blackpool still many people’s football tips for relegation, West Ham have an excellent chance of avoiding the drop.

In fact, if the likes of Robert Green and Scott Parker continue to excel at the club week in, week out, the team could eventually be capable of challenging for a European place once they have signed a few quality players.