West Ham boss Zola praises the fans as 4,000 head north to the Riverside

25 February 2009 10:46
West Ham[LNB]fans could make up almost a quarter of the crowd at the Riverside tonight for the fifth-round FA Cup replay against Middlesbrough[LNB].[LNB]The club are paying for around 30 coaches to take supporters north and hope to have more than 4,000 fans roaring them on as they chase a quarter-final tie at Everton[LNB]. [LNB]Travelling army: Zola has praised West Ham's away support[LNB] 'The fans have always been with us and to them goes my appreciation,' said West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola. [LNB]'I am very thankful to them and it is so important to see them in big numbers when the players come onto the pitch.'[LNB]Zola, who won the FA Cup twice as a player with Chelsea, is desperate to do well in this season's competition as a first-time manager.[LNB]'I know what the cup means to everyone and we will do everything we can to go through,' said Zola.[LNB]After eight matches unbeaten, West Ham have now picked up just one point from their last three games, losing 2-1 at Bolton on Saturday. [LNB]However, Zola is not panicking and said: 'It didn't feel like a defeat at Bolton because we played a good match and confidence is still strong.'[LNB]Zola has had his players practising penalties this week in case the tie cannot be decided in open play.[LNB]'We are prepared,' he said.[LNB] I've done it before and I'll do it again! Chelsea legend Zola determined to win the FA Cup with West Ham[LNB]Middlesbrough v WEST HAM: Collins sidelined as Neill returns for Hammers[LNB]MIDDLESBROUGH v West Ham: Digard and King miss out[LNB]WEST HAM UNITED FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB[LNB][LNB] [LNB]  

Source: Daily_Mail