Zola upbeat after disappointing weekend for West Ham (From Thurrock Gazette)

Zola upbeat after disappointing weekend for West Ham

9:58am Monday 8th February 2010

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Burnley 2, West Ham 1 West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola refused to be too downhearted following the Hammers’ 2-1 defeat to Burnley.

But the league table told a different story, with the Hammers slipping back into the relegation zone and extending their poor run to one win in 10.

Zola believes his side have been improving in recent weeks and that the influx of new players including Benni McCarthy, Mido and Ilan up front will pay off handsomely — but knows time is running out.

“We have to be quick to get the new players into our system,” Zola said.

“I was pleased with them because Mido was magnificent and Ilan scored, but we really have to start using the whole 90 minutes.

“My only regret is the first 20 minutes when we weren’t good enough. We have improved over the last six weeks and today has been a little step back but we will come back stronger — I’m sure about that.”

Debut boy Danny Fox handed Brian Laws his first win as Burnley boss with a stunning second-half free-kick but the Clarets were left clinging on desperately for the points.

The former Celtic left-back landed at Turf Moor last month in a £1.8million switch and it looks like money well spent after Fox helped his new side back to winning ways.

First he delivered the long ball in the 14th minute for David Nugent to lob home the opener. Then his curled free-kick from a tight angle in the 55th minute found the top corner.

It was just what Laws required after three straight league defeats since he replaced Owen Coyle — and a club run stretching back 12 long games to the end of October.

But it was still almost denied them as Hammers substitute Ilan reduced the deficit 10 minutes from time before Mido’s low effort struck the base of the post with seconds remaining.

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