West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has hit out at the critics of his perceived negative tactics and revealed he finds the lack of praise for his players 'sickening'.
The 59-year-old reacted by cupping his ear as Hammers' fans jeered their team off the pitch following a 2-1 victory over Hull last month as he continues his fight to completely win over the support.
Having taken West Ham back to the Barclays Premier League at the first time of asking, and leading them to a top-half finish last season, many would think Allardyce had endeared himself to the fans, but many are increasingly agitated with his apparent long-ball approach.
The victory over Hull was followed by another vital three points at Sunderland and West Ham have now picked up six wins in their last nine league games.
However, Allardyce is angered with the continued criticism of how his side play and the limited acknowledgement of their recent achievements.
"Well you see, it's all a load of bull," he said when asked about his side's style.
"I think that it's all about the perception and the reputation of Sam Allardyce, not the West Ham players and how they play. It's all perceived to be like this and nothing else.
"It is a load of rubbish and I can't help that. It's unfortunate for the players because this particular period of time, when they've achieved six wins out of nine matches, they get little or no praise for it and that's really sad.
"We've had our best run of results but nobody's talking about it. They're talking about a one-game scenario when people are booing because we've won against 10 men. It's life I suppose, but it's quite sickening to be honest."
Allardyce was retained as manager at Upton Park despite a desperate spell during the winter, with co-chairmen David Gold and David Sullivan continually backing their man rather than reacting to the poor form by looking elsewhere.
The main factor behind a winter of discontent was a chronic injury list, and as those players have slowly made their way back into the team, the Hammers have turned their fortunes around.
League-leaders Liverpool visit east London on Sunday, with Allardyce questioning why recent results have not warranted more praise for his squad.
"They got slaughtered in December because they were losing football matches and now they're performing some of the best results they've performed since we got back in the Premier League," he said.
"It's top-six form and that's what we should be talking about, not talking about the type of football that we play because we play a type of football that suits the players, that's entertaining and it's winning.
"The game is about results - that's a fact. If you don't get results, you don't keep your job. If you don't get results, you get transferred. It's a results business, an entertaining business, and you try and put both together as often as you possibly can."
Meanwhile, joint chairman David Gold told Sky Sports News: "The f ans have that right to boo - but all I'd say is I've not known a team play better because the fans are booing."
Source: PA
