West Ham midfielder Gary O’Neil believes the experience crucial in the sbo login squad and backroom staff has helped them as they bid to retain their Premier League status.

Sam Allardyce’s side were only promoted to the top-flight last season but they lie 12th in the sbo login table, six points clear of the relegation zone.

sbo login : O’Neil Experience crucial

West Ham midfielder Gary O’Neil convinced experience has been key this sbo login season

O’Neil is convinced the experience in the sbo login camp has aided their cause following their return to the Premier League via the play-offs last season after they were relegated in 2010/11.

“We maybe had the edge because we have got a lot of sbo login players and the manager and staff who have played and worked in the Premier League before,” he said.

“We were only down for a sbo login season as well so the lads are used to playing in the PL so we maybe took to it quicker than they did.

“We also we had a slightly easier run of fixtures at the start that helped us build up some sbo login momentum.”

Following a strong start to the sbo login season that saw that saw the Hammers settle into the top half of the table they began to struggle after the turn of the year.

But recent victories over Stoke and West Brom, as well as a battling point at Liverpool on Sunday, have left Allardyce’s side in a strong sbo login position to play top-flight football next season.

Gary O’Neil: Experience in squad crucial to West Ham this sbo login season

When asked if the team struggled to rediscover their early sbo login season form, O’Neil added: “I think it took us a little while, it does hit you confidence-wise as a squad.

“Even if you are losing to the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United, it does dent the sbo login confidence. It was hard to get another run going.

“But fortunately we’ve got a little one going now and have picked up seven points sbo login from our last four games which is good and can hopefully be added to this weekend.

“We’ve always said we want to finish as high as we can, we weren’t just focusing on avoiding relegation.

“Our aim was always to finish as high up as possible, we want to get to 40 (points) first to make well and truly sbo login sure we are safe but then by no means will we stop there.”

source : skysports

Manuel Pellegrini expects a repeat of the first leg when Malaga head to Borussia Dortmund next week sbo login following a 0-0 draw in Spain.

Malaga fulfilled Pellegrini’s pre-match objective of ensuring Dortmund did not score an away sbo login goal, although the visitors missed several clear chances to come away with a win.

sbo login : Pellegrini expects against Dortmund

Champions League: Malaga sbo login coach Manuel Pellegrini satisfied with draw against Dortmund

Pellegrini expects the second leg in Germany to follow a similar pattern sbo login and felt both teams tried to gain a first-leg advantage.

“I don’t think the game in Germany will be too different from tonight, only an early goal for either team could change things,” said Pellegrini.

“Both sides went for it tonight and it made for a good open sbo login game.”

Manuel Pellegrini: Malaga coach expects another open sbo login game against Borussia Dortmund

Malaga keeper Willy Caballero made a string of important saves in the first half and is hoping his side can sbo login reach the semi-finals of the Champions League.

“We weren’t able to score but let’s see what we can do in the sbo login return leg next week,” Caballero said in an interview with Canal Plus.

“It was my turn to participate tonight sbo login and let’s hope it’s all going to be worth something in a week’s time.

“We have a week to keep studying them and hopefully we can get a result over there.”

source : skysportzeed

Skipper Jobi McAnuff insists Reading can still escape sbo login relegation despite going into the final seven matches of the Premier League season bottom of the table.

The 4-1 defeat at Arsenal on Saturday saw Reading drop to the foot of the table behind QPR on goal difference.

More importantly they are seven points off 17th place and safety, but with home sbo login games against Southampton – the former club of new boss Nigel Adkins – and QPR to come, McAnuff says they are still in with a chance.

sbo login : McAnuff We can avoid the drop

Jobi McAnuff says Reading can still avoid relegation sbo login from Premier League

“We have got games there that we think we winnable between now and the end of the sbo login season and we have got to move on as quickly as possible from this and make sure we are right come Saturday,” the midfielder said.

“It changes from year to year, but historically there’s obviously a (points) mark teams need to get to.

“We know we’re going to need a good few wins between now and the end of the sbo login season to reach that target.

Jobi McAnuff: We can still avoid sbo login relegation

“We have got to start getting that first win on the board as quickly as possible.

“We feel we’ve got the games to do it, we’ve still got some sbo login teams in and around us and it’s important not to get too down. We will make sure we learn from this defeat and move forward.

“We have got to really focus on ourselves, we have got a new sbo login manager now and everyone is working together to try and stay up.”

“We have been through some rough times before and we have achieved a lot as a group of players and from our point of view that spirit will keep us moving forward.”

source : skysportzeed