Source: Daily_Mail
West Ham hero Diamanti says crucial win was for under-fire boss Zola
West Ham goal hero Alessandro Diamanti insists the players are all behind boss Gianfranco Zola after helping the struggling Hammers to move out of the Barclays Premier League bottom three with a victory over Birmingham on Wednesday night.[LNB]Diamanti sprinted 50 yards to hug Zola on the touchline after he had put West Ham in front with a sensational free-kick on the stroke of half-time in the 2-0 win at Upton Park.[LNB]He was followed by a host of his team-mates in a public display of affection and support for their manager.[LNB] Hammer time: Alessandro Diamanti (above) curls home a stunning free-kick before racing to the touchline to celebrate with Gianfranco Zola (below)[LNB]Diamanti was the catalyst for the success when Scott Parker's mazyrun was brought to an end with a foul by Scott Dann. Both Diamanti andMido wanted to take the free-kick but the goalscorer would not bedenied.[LNB]'I was ready to cut off his hands if he had tried to pickup the ball,' said Diamanti, who then sprinted towards the touchline tohug Zola with a clutch of other West Ham players.[LNB]It was a message of support for Zola and a one which the new co-owners would have noted as they celebrated in the stand.[LNB]'We had so much will to win this game," added Diamanti. 'We had been trying hard to win the last few games. It didn't happen but there was so much anger in the team to win this one.[LNB]'Like every other player here, we are all behind the manager because he works very hard, he's a top guy and he's the one who always takes responsibility.[LNB]'Even when we don't play well he's always there, encouraging us. I was very pleased to win and when I scored my first thought was for the boss.'[LNB]Zola appreciated the gesture by Diamanti but was reluctant to see it as anything more than a nice celebration of a great goal.[LNB]'I appreciated the gesture very much,' he said. 'It's important the crowd sees there is a good working group here and a sense of unity. As he ran over he said that it was a goal for the team, me and himself.[LNB] Smells like team spirit: West Ham players celebrate Carlton Cole's decisive second goal[LNB]'It is important there is a good connection between the staff, myself and the other people who work with the players.'[LNB]Zola's team had clearly been stung by co-owner David Sullivan's pre-match comments about overpaid players and a "nice" manager.[LNB]If his jibes were meant to galvanise the team, then the process worked a treat as Diamanti's opener was followed by a second from Carlton Cole after the break.[LNB]'Sometimes things are said to provoke a reaction,' said midfielder Parker. 'The only thing we could do was react on the pitch and we did that. Maybe it was what they call reverse psychology.'[LNB] Zola tells owners: Players were showing passion for me... not contempt for youWest Ham 2 Birmingham 0: Diamanti and Cole seal vital win for ZolaZola is '100 per cent safe': Sullivan vows not to sack under-fire West Ham bossWEST HAM UNITED FC
