Source: Team_Talk
Hammers not safe yet - Zola
West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola was delighted to see his side earn a Premier League lifeline with a 1-0 victory over Sunderland at Upton Park.[LNB] The Hammers' first win in eight games, secured by a second-half goal from Brazilian striker Ilan, edged them four points above the relegation zone.[LNB]But with a trip to Liverpool next weekend followed by a home clash with fellow strugglers Wigan, Zola warned there is hard work still to come.[LNB]"We are very happy for today. It was such a tough game for us. I am pleased because the players gave everything," said Zola.[LNB]"I am absolutely delighted for the boys because I know what they have been through all this time.[LNB]"The result we got last week (2-2 draw at Everton) gave everybody a big boost. This is much better but it is still too early to celebrate. We are not there yet."[LNB]One more win would move West Ham on to 34 points and Zola believes that could be enough to secure top-flight survival - but he will not count on it.[LNB]"It might be enough but we will try to get more. This is not a championship where you can say it is over. Nobody was expecting Burnley to beat Hull City today," said Zola.[LNB]"We will stay on our toes."[LNB]Ilan is fast emerging as West Ham's unlikely saviour, having followed up his equaliser against Everton last weekend with a vital strike today.[LNB]The 29-year-old, who was making only his second start for the club, latched onto Carlton Cole's downward header to earn West Ham a vital three points.[LNB]"Ilan has done very well," said Zola.[LNB]"Last week he came on and he scored a very important goal for us and he has made his way through to the team. That goal he scored today was unbelievable.[LNB]"I am delighted. He is becoming very effective for us. He is making a big difference but I don't think we have seen the best of him because he is still adapting his football.[LNB]"But the understanding he has with Carlton Cole is good."[LNB]West Ham's victory confirmed Portsmouth's relegation.[LNB]"I am sorry for them and I feel for Avram Grant and his players but that is part of football. I have to think about my life and still I am not safe," said Zola.[LNB]Sunderland manager Steve Bruce was disappointed his side conceded to a Cole flick-on because he had warned his players at half-time that West Ham's only route of attack was the long ball.[LNB]"It is a bad goal to give away, a horrible goal. We had just spoken about it at half-time. For me, their only real threat was a Carlton Cole flick-on and somebody running through," said Bruce.[LNB]"I thought in the first half we were comfortable. Lee Cattermole missed by a whisker and if Darren Bent had stayed on his feet when he was clean through it would have been a goal.[LNB]"It wasn't our day but we have to be honest, there are too many days like that when we come away from home.[LNB]"That sums our season up, where we have done enough to get more than a point but have come away with nothing. We had a great attitude for it and should have got something out of the game."[LNB]Bruce was more furious at the performance of referee Mike Jones.[LNB]Sunderland were angry at not being allowed to take a quick free-kick after Guillermo Franco's late strike had been ruled out for handball.[LNB]The referee had ruled it would be unsporting given West Ham still had players off the field celebrating.[LNB]Bruce also felt Sunderland deserved a second-half penalty after a challenge from Julien Faubert on Bent, although Zola had the same complaint following a Craig Gordon challenge on Cole.[LNB]"Some of the stuff he came up with was total dross," said Bruce.[LNB]"His performance was poor, which was summed up at the end."
