Grant vows to avoid relegation

West Ham manager Avram Grant believes his side can still pick up the points they need to avoid relegation, starting with a win against Manchester City on Sunday.

Currently languishing at the bottom of the Premier League, West Ham must travel to Eastlands to face a Manchester City side who are fighting for a Champions League qualifying place.

Grant believes that the London club can take confidence in their recent performances even if results have not been going their way and he is fully behind his players.

“I can speak only about what I see. I could say against Chelsea last weekend and the games before that the players are giving everything,” said Grant.

“Of course we can ask for more in quality but they are giving everything and the spirit is good.”

West Ham must do without key components of their team on Sunday as Mark Noble (stomach), Wayne Bridge (on-loan from Manchester City) and Gary O’Neill (ankle) are all out as well as captain Scott Parker (Achilles) being highly unlikely to feature.

Grant, however, is confident that his side can win their battle against relegation and believes the players he has at his disposable can do a good job for the team.

“I think we have a chance to stay up. We are two points from the place that will keep us in the Premier League and of course we can do it,” he said.

“We showed that, even though we had less chances, before we played well and took points.”

Grant has previously said that his team need nine points to avoid the drop but he now admits that seven may have to be enough and it will be difficult to take points from the Manchester City game.

“The next game is always the toughest one. Of course, Man City away is the toughest one on paper but I think we can take points from all of our games,” he said.