Focus is key to Hammers’ top-four bid, says Lingard
JESSE LINGARD called for West Ham to keep their cool in the race for Champions League qualification after victory at Wolves raised hopes of a top-four finish.
The rejuvenated England forward inspired the Hammers at Molineux, with a 3-2 win and three points lifting them to fourth in the Premier League.
Lingard – who has six goals in eight club games since a loan move from Manchester United – scored a wonderful solo strike and also had a hand in goals from Pablo Fornals and Jarrod Bowen.
West Ham are now just four points behind third-placed Leicester, who they host on Sunday, and Lingard knows they must remain calm.
‘We need to maintain our focus in each game,’ the 28-year-old said. ‘We’ve got a tough run of fixtures but the lads are ready and we’ll prepare for the next game. There’s always room to improve.
‘It’s a great victory but there are things to take from this game, positive and negative, and we’ll learn from that.
‘It was a tough game and we had to work hard for the three points. We kept at it – it could have been another Arsenal situation (drawing 3-3 after leading 3-0) after conceding before half-time – but the lads kept their focus and concentration throughout the 90 minutes.
‘It was just a lack of concentration at the end of the first half but we came out in the second half a little bit better. They dominated most of the play but it was about us managing the game.’
Leander Dendoncker pulled a goal back for Wolves a minute before the break while Fabio Silva’s strike made it a nervy final 22 minutes for the Hammers, but David Moyes’ side held firm to fuel belief this could be a season to savour.