Friday Feb 16 2007 13:26
West ham's Nigel Reo-Coker has urged the club's fans not to believe newspaper stories of dressing room unrest and turmoil at Upton Park.
Reo-Coker, 22, has himself been the subject of intense media speculation surrounding his happiness and future at the club after a disappointing campaign, but the Hammers captain has called on the fans to back their side as they continue to toil at the wrong end of the Premiership table.
"We just have to say to the fans, don't believe everything you read," he told the club's official website.
"The papers are speculating and they want to write negative stuff. They want negativity to spread, not just around the dressing room, but out on to the terraces.
"That's not the case, the lads are trying very hard, it's been a difficult time for us and it still is a difficult time for us.
"There are still 33 points left to play for and every game between now and the end of the season is a cup final for us. We have to go out there and perform and get the points."
Reo-Coker is suspended for the next two games but has backed his team-mates to pick up points in crucial meetings with Charlton and Tottenham in the coming weeks.
"We have two very vital games coming up and I'm bitterly disappointed to be missing them," he continued. "But I've got to suffer the consequences of getting ten cautions.
"I'm very disappointed. It's a really important period of time for us. But I'm sure the team are more than capable of coping without me."
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