Dracula crosses alcohol off the menu

The West Ham custodian, dubbed 'Dracula' by sections of the media, wants to be at his optimum for the remainder of the season and feels alcohol is a small sacrifice for survival.   

"I have had a serious look at myself and sorted all the stuff out," explained James.

"I have made sure of my concentration during games and I have stopped drinking.

"I am off the pop now until the end of the season. It wasn't as though I was going out and getting drunk.

"I just think we need clear minds between now and the end of the season.

"I stopped two weeks ago - it had to be done. It is no good me having a couple of drinks last week, coming to Arsenal and losing heavily and then thinking I could have done better with one of the goals."

James is aware that everyone in the Hammers team has to focus if the London club are to move off bottom spot and then out of the relegation zone. 

"You have to be sharp and you have to be focused," added James.

"Everybody has their part to play. We are bottom of the League and if you are not going to make sacrifices when you are bottom, then when are you going to do it?"

West Ham are rooted at the bottom of The Premier League and are four points away from safety with 15 games remaining.