Cole - Hammers can survive

West Ham striker Carlton Cole is confident his newly promoted Hammers side can survive in the Premier League.

Striker says top flight new boys can emulate other newly promoted clubs

West Ham striker Carlton Cole is confident his newly promoted Hammers side can survive in the Premier League. Cole scored the opener in the Championship play-off final against Blackpool at Wembley to help clinch promotion for the East London outfit at the first time of asking. The England international says West Ham's primary goal for the forthcoming season will be survival and believes his side can draw inspiration from other promoted teams who have gone on to cement their top flight status in recent campaigns.

Survival aim

"You want to replicate the likes of Norwich and Swansea, who did well, and when you look at Queens Park Rangers surviving, all the newly promoted sides stayed up," Cole said. "We are trying to do the same. "But to get mid-table in our first season back and then look to progress from there is what you are looking at." West Ham kick-off their Premier League term against Aston Villa on Saturday 18 August.