Ginger Pele back and heralds another clean sheet

James Collins says confidence is so high among the Hammers defenders right now that they believe it’s possible to keep clean sheets against any team.

‘The Ginger Pele’ returned to the back line yesterday at Stoke and given his lengthy absence looked quite superb as the team cruised to victory.

And afterwards he said: “The win was deserved after the last few weeks of playing very well and defending well. Our confidence is high at the back.

“That’s what clean sheets are all about, and if you play against anyone, if you defend well, we can keep a clean sheet.

“Adrian and the boys at the back, when I haven’t been playing, have been superb and I’ve obviously slotted in and got another clean sheet, so that should be our basis for every game – a clean sheet – and we have goals in the team.

“We had a look at ourselves after the first ten games – I’d be angry at my son’s U10 team if they conceded some of the goals we did.

“We knew we had to change and get back to the basics and defend well. We have done a lot of work on that, but the gaffer’s come in and got us doing the basics against and we’re getting the clean sheets.