On most occasions you would argue West Ham United were unlucky to be beaten by Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday and the last-minute winner from the north London side should not turn positive feelings about the season into negative ones.

But despite a new campaign usually being about wiping the slate clean and forgetting the problems from the previous season, it would seem West Ham have retained the negative outlook and the supporters seem to be encased in a feeling of doubt and gloom about the club’s chances.

If you take the game against Spurs on its own merit then West Ham were, for large periods, the only side who looked as though they were going to win the game.

As the 90th minute hit, the disappointment from the home crowd would have been about how West Ham have not picked up all three points against a side who were down to ten men for a significant chunk of the game. But to lose it with nearly the last kick just brought all those depressing feelings to the forefront.

And with that goal came the inevitable questions about the manager, his tactics and the team’s inability to make the extra man count.

The summer saw the club bring in seven new players with three of them being strikers, yet to see Carlton Cole start up front on his own had everyone scratching their heads.

The inclusion of Ricardo Vaz Te was another surprise considering Sam Allardyce now had players in the squad which would allow him to change his system.

Whether you are pro or anti Allardyce, the fact is whenever West Ham lose one or two games the questions will inevitably be asked about the manager’s future.

If he is still here at the end of the season then I can only presume West Ham would have gone on to have a wonderful season because I can only foresee pressure mounting when the team are going through a poor run of form.

The next game is a chance to give everyone connected with the club a bit of lift but no game in the Premier League is an easy one and whilst Crystal Palace have lost their manager in Tony Pulis, they are still a tough team to beat – especially at Selhurst Park where they performed so well last season.

It is not inconceivable by any stretch of the imagination that the Hammers could get beaten by Palace.

If this were to happen, those vocal away supporters which follow West Ham up and down the country may begin once again see fit to voice their annoyance at a manager who doesn’t seem to have got any more popular with the fans.

Of course it is far too early in the season to talk about “must win” games but for the atmosphere around the club, a victory at Crystal Palace is vital and personally I am looking for something to give me a bit of hope that the Irons are not going to have a similar demoralising season as they did last time around.