WEST Ham have finally achieved the lift-off they have been waiting for, according to manager Alan Curbishley.

The boss (pictured, left) said: "In the last three games the players have shown more determination and a greater work rate and sometimes that's what you need to spark yourselves off.

"I think the work rate against Spurs, Blackburn and now Middlesbrough, was the same as my first game in charge against Manchester United, but inbetween that, it's never been the same.

"Now the penny's dropped that we have to work that hard in the Premiership and hopefully this is the bit of lift-off that we've been looking for.

"Two results on the spin - can we take it on and make it a third?" Now five points behind fourth-from-bottom side Sheffield United and with seven games left, Curbishley believes the Hammers may have a few shocks left up their sleeves.

He said: "I knew going into the Boro game that we had to win the majority of our matches.

"We might win games that no one expects us to. Who knows?

"I think sometimes it's a mental thing. Recently we've got our noses in front and given ourselves that bit of confidence that makes it look easier.

"Can we carry that on into the next game at Arsenal?

"We've got Chelsea to come here in our next home game. It could be interesting.

"The teams just outside the bottom three might start to feel the pressure."