Christmas form the perfect present for Hammers’ Noble

Captain Mark Noble insists it was imperative West Ham went into Christmas on the front foot – despite not playing their best football of the season.

The Hammers picked up victories over Burnley and Hull prior to the festivities, backing up a solid draw at Liverpool, a huge improvement to their wretched start to the season.

Sitting just five points clear of relegation danger before the Boxing Day fixtures, Slaven Bilic’s side have crashed back to Earth in their new London Stadium home, a huge backwards step from a season that saw them qualify for the Europa League.

But Noble feels that, despite continuing to play far from their best, a corner has finally been turned, insisting performances will come to the fore if results keep heading in the right direction.

(Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)

“It has been a massive week for the club getting seven points. We have not played well in the two home games and I will be the first to say thatm” he said.

“But if you are not going to play well, the key is to win. We could have played Burnley and Hull off the park and not come away with anything. That happened to us earlier in the season and not had the greatest results.

“With the position we were in the key for us was to forget about the performance and get a result. We have been lucky but the seven points are massive.

“All the games are tough in this league because all the teams can now bring in good players. We know that Swansea away is going to be tough, but I am hoping we can carry on our winning streak.”