Sam Allardyce believes that 38 points should be enough to guarantee Premier League survival this season.
With West Ham on a fantastic recent run of form, Southampton are next to visit the Boleyn Ground for what should be a fascinating test against Allardyce's rejuvenated squad this weekend.Having picked up ten points from their last four outings without conceding a single goal, West Ham are understandably in confident mood - which should stand them in good stead against a Saints side who have exceeded all expectations in the Premier League this season and currently reside three places above United in eighth position.
Big Sam, who spent last weekend in Dubai wiith his squad at a 'warm-weather' training camp believes that a win this weekend against Mauricio Pochettino's side could leave West Ham requiring two or three victories to seal another season in the Premier League.
"We've put 13 points together in six games but we're only four points from third bottom, so it's going to be at least 38 points based on what's happening," he told the press this morning. "There hasn't been too many years over the last ten years when you've had to have over 38 points, but perhaps you will this time.
"We've got to really focus on trying to continue doing the things we've been doing over the last few games. There's now quite a few players in the squad that haven't started and want to start - like Winston Reid, who can't get back in the side at the moment.
"We're not out of the woods yet, but I think all of us have made great strides and great efforts. Everybody's played their part to try and alleviate the situation that we were in and it's my job to make sure that pays off in the end."
And on the challenge offered by this weekend's opponents, Allardyce added: "That will be a tough game and a big test for us, so we must try and maintain the good run of results we've had over the last few weeks.
"At the moment it's going well but Southampton, who are back on a winning streak, will provide a very difficult game for us. Hopefully in the form that we're in, we'll be big enough and strong enough to conquer them."
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