Source: Team_Talk
Avram: Carling Cup win can help us
Avram Grant insists West Ham's Carling Cup win over Stoke was not the turning point of their season - because that had already been reached.[LNB] But the Hammers boss is hoping their passage into the quarter-finals can help inspire the squad to stay on the winning path.[LNB]West Ham scored a late equaliser in Wednesday night's fourth-round tie at Upton Park before going on to win 3-1 in extra-time, giving themselves a shot in the arm for their miserable Premier League campaign.[LNB]Grant believes his side were already getting their season back on track, with Saturday's defeat to Newcastle the only black mark from an otherwise encouraging last six weeks.[LNB]"The turning point was a few weeks ago," said Grant, who was coming under mounting pressure with West Ham rooted to the foot of the Premier League.[LNB]"Even Saturday, we started the game like a top, top team, and then someone pushed the (self-destruct) button."[LNB]It was West Ham's third-round win at Sunderland last month which arguably hinted at a change of fortune.[LNB]An FA Cup run while Grant was at Portsmouth last season helped galvanise his squad when the club was deducted nine points for going into administration.[LNB]And the Israeli believes reaching the latter stages of the League Cup can have a similar effect at West Ham.[LNB]"I think yes," he said.[LNB]"Last year with Portsmouth, I'm sure that if we'd not had the problems, we'd easily have stayed in the league.[LNB]"I believe in this team, I believe in this squad.[LNB]"Of course, we cannot solve all the problems in one day but, step by step, I think we are going forward."
