Leroy: “This is the most important game so far”

We face a real test of character this afternoon. It’s great when you are winning but the real challenge for Slav and his staff is to pick up the players and get a massive performance following last week’s defeat against Watford.

I think they will!

Until now we fans have been keeping our fingers crossed and hoping we can win the next match – that this hasn’t been some kind of amazing fluke – but a win today will show us that this is a team more than capable of challenging at the top of the league.

It looks as though Andy Carroll is going to get the shout up front and as a former striker let me give him a tip: Stop worring about scoring – that will come of its own accord.

Occupy the Everton defence. Worry them, do what you do best – put them under serious pressure and create the space for the creative players.

Don’t try to over impress. Be what you are because at your best that makes you a top player

I am a huge fan of Diafra Sakho’s and he is our number one striker but Andy is a pretty good number two and as the manager has said frequently, at his best is all but unplayable.

What we have to be seriously concious of is that we have made some woeful mistakes, 95 per cent of which have led to goals. If we are to be taken seriously at the top that has to stop

I have my fingers crossed that Winston Reid  will be back because he brings a real calmness and authority to the team back there.

Today is as much about the fans as the players. A victory – or worst a draw – will have everybody believing that this Hammers side really is a different kettle of fish to many we’ve seen before and can recover quickly from setbacks.

I believe this is the most important so far this season for that reason.