It's make or break for Hammers, admits Zola

Back of the net! Cristiano Ronaldo followed the ball into the goal when he scored his second, leaving Hammers defender Herita Ilunga to watch on forlornly

Ian Whittell

13 April 2012

Man Utd 2
West Ham 0

Gianfranco Zola admitted today injury-hit West Ham are at a "crucial moment" in their campaign after slumping to a fourth consecutive defeat.

Their predicament was summed up by the nature of the latest casualty, Swiss midfielder Valon Behrami, who now faces tests on a freak calf problem which he collected late in the first half of the 2-0 defeat to Manchester United, when he collapsed to the ground with nobody around him.

With Saturday's visit to improving Middlesbrough looming, Zola hopes his team can maintain the improved form they showed in a goal-less second half at Old Trafford.

"Middlesbrough is very important," said Zola. "It's a crucial moment in the season for us. Hopefully, the second half can be a turning point. I know the value of my players and if I look at the value of my players I am not worried.

"Hopefully, they are not worried either, that is my concern. I hope they don't get frustrated because I totally believe in them.

"I have so much faith in their qualities, I am sure this spell is going to be over soon."

West Ham's personnel problems show few signs of improving before the visit to the Riverside. Although defender Lucas Neill is expected to have recovered from a virus in time for the weekend, Behrami takes his place in the treatment room, with a diagnosis expected today on how long he will be sidelined, and Scott Parker is far from certain to be available.

With Carlton Cole staring a three-match suspension last night, the list of long-term injury absentees Kieron Dyer, Dean Ashton, James Tomkins, Danny Gabbidon and Jonathan Spector shows no sign of shortening.

"It is not great at the moment in that sense," said Zola (right) of his injury list. "We can't do anything about it and I have to say the players who came on for us in the second half Jack Collison, Fred Sears, [Luis] Boa Morte did very well. I'm pleased with them.

"It is a pity because we are missing important players but we have got to get on with it and do our best with the other players.

"Lucas Neill should be available, Parker I don't know and, unfortunately, we're going to lose Behrami for a while. I don't know how long for but he is not looking good.

"It's not great at the moment but I'm not sulking or anything. It is my duty to lift the players. The last three matches we lost, we were unlucky but today we couldn't have done more. Now is the moment to change things. The players know that and we're going to try very hard at Middlesbrough."

Cristiano Ronaldo struck twice in the opening 29 minutes, sweeping in from Nani's cross then tapping in after an outrageous piece of skill by Dimitar Berbatov on the by-line saw the former Tottenham striker twist past James Collins before crossing.

With former Hammer Carlos Tevez starting for the first time in a month he would be joined 21 minutes from time by substitute Michael Carrick for just his third game of the season United were magnificent in the first half.

But the expected deluge never materialised with United manager Sir Alex Ferguson furious after the game at the manner in which his team had relaxed and failed to build on the two-goal cushion

"In the beginning it was too easy for Manchester," said Zola. "But big teams take every single opportunity and they scored, that was our mistake."

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Gianfranco Zola

West Ham United

It's make or break for Hammers, admits Zola

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