Great escape planned

By Simon Hayes on April 10, 2007 12:00 AM |

THE GREAT ESCAPE could be on in May, and it's got nothing to do with Bank Holiday TV schedules.
West Ham's shock win over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday (April 7) has given them real hope of avoiding relegation to the Championship, something that seemed inevitable only a month ago.
And with Charlton, Fulham and Wigan all dropping points on Monday, when the Hammers had a break due to Chelsea's Champions League commitments, it proved to be an excellent Easter.

The Irons' win over Arsenal, the first time the Gunners have lost at their new home, was largely due to an inspired performance from keeper Robert Green, as well as some wayward finishing from the much-vaunted home side.
According to Alan Curbishley Green's performance, which included at least two world-class saves, could be the catalyst for Premiership survival, especially with games against Chelsea and Manchester United to come.
He said: "When you go to the top four you need your goalkeeper to get 10 out of 10, or perhaps 11 out of 10, or even 12 out of 10. And that's what Greeny's done today. It was a fantastic display and gives us great hope for the run-in now."
Green's super show even won him a round of applause from his teammates after the game and Curbishley thinks the players now have the belief to beat the drop.
"I'm beginning to learn more and more about the players as we go along," he said. "They think we can do it and I think the fans now think we can do it. We've just got to win the majority of our games. I'd like to think this is the start of a run, we've not had one all season and perhaps this may be the start of one."
Saturday's victory will count for nothing if the Hammers don't follow it up this Saturday (April 14) against fellow strugglers Sheffield United. They travel to Bramall Lane for a sixpointer they simply cannot afford to lose, something Curbishley recognises.
"We live to go to the bigger game, if you like, and we've given ourselves a chance," he said. "Sheffield United and Wigan have been dragged into it and we've got to play both of them. Certainly we'll look at those games as big turning points, big games. We obviously know what's at stake and we'll see what happens." 
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