David Moyes says West Ham’s European journey has been vital in retaining his side’s belief in their survival chances as the Premier League run-in gets underway this weekend.
The Hammers host bottom side Southampton at the London Stadium on Sunday, having slipped back into the bottom three themselves after not playing on the final weekend before the international break.
Moyes’ side have 12 games to save what has been a dismal season on the domestic front, but are also looking ahead to a Europa Conference League quarter-final against Gent next month.
“Our results in Europe have been really, really good,” Moyes said. “10 unbeaten, and that's kept us going a little bit, kept the belief.
“We're certainly not acting behind the scenes that we are a team in the wrong part of the league. I see the players around the club in good spirits and that's partly because of our results in Europe.”
Sunday’s game looks another must-win against a relegation rival for the Hammers, who have beaten Nottingham Forest and Everton in similar circumstances since the turn of the year.
Moyes was on the receiving end of vocal fan criticism during the abysmal 4-0 defeat away at Brighton earlier this month, but his players have delivered at home of late and the manager urged the London Stadium crowd to stick behind his side.
“I think if ever we’ve needed it, it’s coming up to the period,” Moyes added. “We’ve got a lot of home games coming up. We've got nine games in April, it's going to take a lot for the players, anything the supporters can give will certainly add to hopefully, the performance and the effort the players will put in.”
