Allardyce "satisfied" but wants even better performances in last four games

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has told of his satisfaction at his side's solid first season back so far in the Premier League, and says that he now wants his players to push on and seal a top half finish.

Speaking to a press conference ahead of Saturday's trip to the Etihad Stadium to face fallen champions Manchester City, Big Sam praised the 'consistency' of his players, but warned that although survival is virtually secured for the Irons, anything could happen in the remaining four games.

"I always said from the start that I wanted us to finish around mid table, and that tenth was the highest we could possibly finish, and now we're there with four games to go. We've not been lower than 14th all season, so it really shows the consistency the players have shown."

"We had a bleak spell around December and January but now we're in a very comfortable position and now we can enjoy and relax [in the final four games] without it detracting from the performance. In fact, it hope it will make the lads perform even better than they already have done- while we're not mathematically safe, it's going to be very difficult for the teams around us to put us in a relegation-threatened position."

On the coming trips to City and to Everton a fortnight later, the 59 year old was equally pragmatic.

"We've got two very difficult away games at Manchester City and Everton, and we could lose our last four games."

"First and foremost, we are concentrating on City, and trying to give the best performance we can at a very difficult place to play football. Then we have, on paper, two less difficult games, against Reading who are struggling at the bottom and Newcastle who haven't performed that well away from home this season."

There have been calls from the fans in recent weeks for Brazilian loanee Wellington Paulista to be given his chance in the first team, and the 29 year old was deemed worthy of a place on the bench against Wigan Athletic last Saturday, but the manager is making no promises to blood Paulista or any other fringe players in the final few games, with survival all but assured.

"We've talked about it, but at £800,000 a place in the league it's something I have to consider. The higher we finish in the league the more revenue it generates, the greater budgeting figures we have for next season. We will try one or two young players but it will not be a big change to the team."

Allardyce concluded the press conference by confirming that he has no fresh injury concerns ahead of Saturday's trip up north.

"James Tomkins [calf] and George McCartney [cruciate] are our only injuries at the moment, the rest of the squad are all fine and enjoyed a couple of well-earnt days off after the week they had and are ready to go against Manchester City."

By Alex Shilling, News Editor

@alexshilling