Hammers striker John Carew believes Saturday’s thumping win over Blackpool has given them the confidence boost they need to go and win at Southampton on Tuesday night

West Ham striker John Carew believes that the Hammers can go to St Mary’s on Tuesday night and end Southampton’s 100 per cent home record this campaign.

The Saints have won their last 14 home league games, a record stretching back from February, but the Norway international believes that Saturday’s 4-0 thumping of Blackpool will give them the confidence to win the battle of the top two.

“I think it will be the next step up for us because we are good enough to do that and good enough to change their 100 per cent home record,” insisted Carew.

“Our goal is to give Southampton their first loss at home and I think we are good enough to do that.”

Midfielder Jack Collison believes that Tuesday’s game gives them the chance to show everyone in the division that they are more than a match for anyone.

“It’s top v second so obviously it is a massive game so early in the season,” he said.

“But it is a great opportunity for us to send out a statement to everyone in the league that we mean business and we don’t just want to go up, we want to win the league and emphatically,” he said.

And Collison believes that the pressures of their Premier League days will stand the players in good stead against a relatively inexperienced Saints side.

”I think if you look right through our squad, there is a lot of experience there, as well as nice mixture of youth,” he said.

“It is going to be a massive game on Tuesday and we will need the likes of Kevin Nolan and Mark Noble, who have been there before and done it, so we are all really looking forward to it and fingers crossed it is another three points.”

Loan goalkeeper Manuel Almunia is also confident that the team will come up with the goods when they need to at St Mary’s.

“I am looking forward to it,” said the Arsenal star. “We all like big games and despite the fact that it is a Championship game, it will be hard and will be a very good test for us.

“We will have to see what we can do there, but I bet for us to win the match.”

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