Source: Daily_Mail
Wally Downes takes West Ham back to basics with strong case for the defence
Lifting the lid: new West Ham defence coach Wally Downes [LNB]New West Ham defence coach Wally Downes today lifted the lid on his safety-first approach, which appears to have kick-started the club's mini-revival.[LNB]The Hammers have won both their games emphatically since the arrival of Downes, whose appointment came in the wake of the sacking of controversial assistant manager Zeljko Petrovic just over a week ago.[LNB]Rock-bottom West Ham scored seven goals and conceded just one over the course of Saturday's Barclays Premier League victory over Wigan and Tuesday night's shock Carling Cup thrashing of Manchester United.[LNB]Downes has been credited by defender Jonathan Spector with being the inspiration behind such a dramatic improvement but the former Reading coach insists there is nothing magical about his contribution.[LNB]'If the ball is there, you have to get rid of it,' said Downes.[LNB]'There's no value to overcomplicating things in your own final third. I like to play football in the opposition's half. That's where the damage is caused, so the more you can keep it away from your goalkeeper the better.'[LNB]Downes revealed how he arrived at Upton Park to find a squad desperate to right the wrongs of their 3-0 defeat at Liverpool days earlier.[LNB]'The lads have all pulled together and wanted to get that Liverpool result out of their systems,' he said.[LNB]'They have responded to everything we have said to them since and when you put your all in in training and in the games, you get results.[LNB]'There is a determination within them to show they can play football. They let one another down and let the fans down at Liverpool and have gone about the last two games to show that they are passionate about what they are doing.'[LNB]He added: 'You could see the confidence in the dressing room after Tuesday's performance.[LNB]'Saturday was a win-at-all-costs game and it didn't matter how we played as long as we got the win.'[LNB]West Ham, who are still three points adrift of safety at the foot of the Premier League, will look to record a third straight win for the first time in almost two years when they travel to Sunderland on Sunday.[LNB]Downes said: 'We have got to keep going right the way through to May. Every time they pull the shirt on and every time they cross the line, they have got to be up for it.'[LNB] Manchester United defender Jonny Evans the target of Fergie fury after cup exitAston Villa target West Ham striker Frederic Piquionne and Spurs forward Robbie KeaneEngland suffer World Cup humiliation as they fail in bid to land 2018 finalsArsenal to face Ipswich as West Ham take on Birmingham in Carling CupBarcelona inspired two-goal Spector, declares West Ham boss GrantWEST HAM UNITED FC
