Source: Team_Talk
Grant: We won't go down
Avram Grant insists West Ham will not be relegated this season despite seeing his side sink to the bottom of the Premier League once again. [LNB] Last week's surprise 1-0 win over Tottenham dragged the Hammers off the foot of the table for the first time since August 28 but victories for Everton and Wigan meant Grant's side dropped to the bottom of the pile despite a creditable 1-1 draw with unbeaten Fulham.[LNB]Grant, whose side face fixtures against Newcastle and relegation rivals Wolves after the international break, is adamant his side will not be relegated to the npower Championship this year.[LNB]"We are not a team to be on the bottom of the league," said Grant, who took financially-beleaguered Portsmouth down last year.[LNB]"We are not heading for relegation. We play football to be in a better place and we will do it."[LNB]Grant points to his team's spirited second half performance against Mark Hughes' side on Saturday as proof that his team are improving.[LNB]Having gone in 1-0 down thanks to Clint Dempsey's opener, the East Londoners hit back with a combative display after the break to earn a draw and stretch their unbeaten run in all competitions to four matches.[LNB]"Two months ago we would have lost that match," the former Chelsea boss said.[LNB]"My team are improving and we played strongly in second half. That didn't happen in the first few games of the season[LNB]"I was delighted to see the second half performance because one of the problems was that at 1-0 down everyone's head was down and everyone was feeling sorry for themselves - but we were stronger in the second half.[LNB]"We had the spirit that gave us the thought that we could win the game."[LNB]Grant stuck with his strike partnership of Victor Obinna and £1million signing Frederic Piquionne as England striker Carlton Cole had to settle for a place on the bench for the second successive week.[LNB]Grant insists that Cole and South Africa striker Benni McCarthy still have important roles to play at the club and concedes that Obinna, who is on a season-long loan from Inter Milan, still has a lot to learn.[LNB]"Obinna didn't play for a long time before he came to us and he was good for us (on Saturday)," said Grant, 55.[LNB]"He can play in many positions. He can play left or right and he can play better also.[LNB]"He sometimes does things on his own but I do think he is a team player as you saw with his two assists in the last two games."[LNB]Grant has been impressed by former Portsmouth man Piquionne, who is now the Hammers' joint top scorer after bagging three in three games.[LNB]"Last year when I was at Portsmouth, he scored important goals for us.[LNB]"He has scored three in the last three. If he continues like this then he will be good.[LNB]"He is working hard. He is a team player and you saw difference in his movement (against Fulham)."[LNB]
