Slaven Bilic says injuries behind West Ham's top-four tilt
Thursday 17 March 2016 15:22, UK
Slaven Bilic says the seeds of West Ham's top-four challenge were sown during their difficult autumn period.
The Hammers went eight Premier League games without a win between Hallowe'en and Boxing Day as they fought to cope with the loss of key players.
The likes of Dimitri Payet and Diafra Sakho were missing for significant periods, but Bilic took heart from the fact only two of those eight games ended in defeat.
West Ham are now just two points off fourth-placed Manchester City ahead of Saturday's trip to Chelsea, and Bilic said: "Injury wise we were in a bad position in November and December, but it was an important period for us to gain confidence and character.
"We weren't losing those games and we showed a stubborn side. Perhaps that is the reason we are playing good now."
James Collins and James Tomkins are now Bilic's only senior absentees as he takes his side to Stamford Bridge looking for a fourth straight league win.
"We have a big squad now," he said. "That makes us even more confident. We are taking it game by game and so far that thinking has put us in a very good situation.
"We are totally focused on the possibility of three points the day after tomorrow, then it's one less game to go."
