Avram Grant is adamant that West Ham will pull clear of trouble this season and remain a top flight outfit.
Hammers boss confident of steering a route to safety
Avram Grant is adamant that West Ham United will pull clear of trouble this season and remain a top flight outfit.
The Hammers prop up the Premier League table at present, with just one win taken from their seven fixtures to date.
That solitary success, recorded against Tottenham last week, momentarily lifted them off the bottom, but they returned to the foot of the division over the weekend.
Victories for Everton and Wigan, coupled with a 1-1 draw of their own against Fulham, saw the Hammers slip back down the standings.
There is, however, still plenty of time in which to claw their way to safety and Grant is confident that his side will not be playing Championship football next term.
"We are not a team to be on the bottom of the league," said the Israeli, who suffered relegation with Portsmouth last season.
"We are not heading for relegation. We play football to be in a better place and we will do it."
Key to West Ham's survival plans will be their ability to get goals.
Important
They do have a number of attack-minded players on their books and Grant has called on one of those, loan signing Victor Obinna, to maintain his recent fine form.
"Obinna didn't play for a long time before he came to us and he was good for us (against Fulham)," said Grant.
"He can play in many positions. He can play left or right and he can play better also.
"He sometimes does things on his own but I do think he is a team player as you saw with his two assists in the last two games."
Grant has also been quick to praise summer signing Frederic Piquionne, with the French striker having found the target three times in his last three appearances.
"Last year when I was at Portsmouth, he scored some important goals for us," he added.
"He has scored three in the last three. If he continues like this then he will be good.
"He is working hard. He is a team player and you saw the difference in his movement (against Fulham)."
