West Ham United are showing top six form as they approach a vital point in the season.
The Hammers' European aspirations are set to be put to the test over the next month with games against Liverpool (h), Wigan (a), Birmingham (h) and Fulham (a) to come in February.Alan Curbishley will be hoping that his side can continue their good run of league form which has them in sixth place in the current form table, based on the last eight matches.
Only Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal, Everton and (surprisingly perhaps) Tottenham can boast a better record in the league since the beginning of December with the Hammers averaging 1.75 points from those eight games.
West Ham have won four times in that period beating Blackburn (1-0), Middlesbrough (2-1), Man Utd (2-1) and Fulham (2-1). The remainder of their 14 point tally came from draws with Reading (1-1) and Man City (1-1).
The only two defeats have come against sides above the Irons in the table, namely Everton (1-2) and Arsenal (0-2).
With the Hammers currently seven points behind sixth-placed Aston Villa (albeit with a game in hand) European qualification remains a real possibility - although realistically they will be looking to take at least eight points from their February schedule in order to remain in the hunt.
An added boost for Curbishley as he prepares for the final third of the season is the return of Craig Bellamy and Danny Gabbidon, who both played for the reserves in Tuesday night's 1-0 win over Portsmouth.
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