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Six games, four points and nineteenth place. There has been considerable discussion as to whether we as fans should be pleased with this return.

The points tally compares favourably with last season’s equivalent fixtures, but the league position looks coldly familiar; we are still amongst the favourites to go down. So are we doing well or not? Are we about to storm up the table or stay slumped in the relegation zone?

It has certainly been a good week for the Hammers. Four points from two tough fixtures and an excellent away win at Sunderland in the League Cup sandwiched in between. The added bonus of a home tie in the next round should not be overlooked either, possibly another sign of our changing luck? It could just be the week that turns our season. The performances have been impressive. They have shown the right mixture of spirit, organisation mixed with attacking enterprise that was missing last season. It has been a week that has seen players other than Scott Parker step up and be counted and make real contributions to the team. It no longer appears to be Scotty against the world.

There have been some real causes for optimism. The deadline day signing of Lars Jacobsen- met with such disapproval by many- appears to have been a good signing. The full back has added solidity to the right back slot which had previously been lacking. Whilst unspectacular, the Dane seems to have the ability to perform confidently at this level; if we’re honest it’s just good to have an actual right back at the club!

For the first time this season, we were also able to name an unchanged back four, continuity at the back is imperative if we are to keep clean sheets. Perhaps a more significant development on Saturday was the dropping of Carlton Cole. Whether fans feel this was harsh on a man who has carried the goal-scoring burden through some tough times or deserved- he has been lacking goals and has looked out of form this season- it did at least suggest that we have options. Cole may come straight back in to the starting line up in a forward three, but it will have hopefully sent out a message to the team that no player is 'undroppable' and everyone will have to perform to stay in the team. We don’t have a wealth of options in all positions, but the message will still have hit home.

Avram Grant showed faith in Victor Obinna and Frederic Piquionne after their excellent performance together at Sunderland and was rewarded. Obinna has been a bit of a revelation. He is positive when he receives the ball and his pace and eye for goal have really shone since he made his debut vs. Chelsea. Piquionne performs exactly as Grant wants; he knew what he was getting when he signed the 31-year-old from former club Portsmouth. He holds the ball up well, makes intelligent runs for the team, but still has the skill to run at defenders and he looks dangerous in front of goal.

It seemed a tad premature to release Guillermo Franco in the summer, Piquionne though has similar attributes to the Mexican and has the mobility to boot. There has also been a positive start to the season for Mark Noble. He now seems to have a more defined role within the team and seems more comfortable in that role. Like Jacobsen there is a no frills approach to Noble’s game and perhaps this is the year that he may push on after stagnating somewhat, particularly during last year’s struggle.

That struggle and the early season deficiencies should not be forgotten though. There are suspect areas within the team. Matthew Upson has looked shaky all season. Rob Green took the brunt of the criticism for the comedy goal against Chelsea but it was Upson who panicked and looked the more at fault. Upson has been removed from the England setup and it would be like a new signing if he could start performing consistently again at this level.

The left back position is still a problem. Herita Illunga has not looked the same player since he secured a permanent deal and we lack cover in this area after the sale of Fabio Daprela. Tal Ben-Haim and Danny Gabbidon will do their best and with their additional height may add some steal to the backline, but as has been seen with Lars Jacobsen on the right, there really is no substitute for a man who knows his position. Playing centre halves at full back is not ideal and limits the attacking options on that flank.

Rob Green had a superb game on Saturday, but it was only a week ago he was coming in for harsh criticism, even after the draw at Stoke. Green seems in upbeat mood and eager to prove his critics wrong, his form this season though has been questionable. Despite the saves versus Spurs, you get the feeling his confidence is probably only one more high profile error away from shattering.

It has been a great seven days. Our first points of the season, an excellent victory in the League Cup and a home draw in the next round too. However, just as we should not have got carried away with our disappointing start to the season, ‘Sack Grant’ and ‘We’re going down’ were extreme reactions to performances which, Aston Villa aside, were not too bad, so we should not go too far the other way and think that the club is out of the relegation woods after our first league win.

There are real signs of progression and Grant is keen to highlight the continuous development of the squad. The manager has remained calm during his spell under pressure. While the press have been calling for his head, he has pointed out that while results have been bad, the performances have been improving. He seems in touch with reality as well, 'there is no deserve in football' has been uttered on numerous occasions. He appears a man who does not over celebrate the good times, or hit rock bottom when things are against him.

The process (not the project) is far from complete though. There are bound to be setbacks and disappointments this season, one good week does not make a season. West Ham have always had the ability to pull a performance and result such as Saturday’s out of the hat and just as capable of disappointing when the supposed smaller teams come to town. A victory over S**rs could easily be followed by a real grind and a bad result against Fulham. It’s really important that we as fans don’t forget that even if we do struggle against Fulham or any of our opponents in the coming weeks, this team does look capable of producing top performances which could not be said last season.

We can’t afford for the win over S**rs to be the only highlight of our season. The campaign has a long way to run and it would not be West Ham without a few ups and downs to fray the nerves and test the durability of finger nails. While we all hope that this week is the beginning of an upturn in results and performances and we must savour such a sweet victory, we as fans need to be careful for it not to raise expectations beyond what is the reality; that we are still a club in debt, we are still in the relegation zone and there is work to be done. It sure is great to beat S**rs though.

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