Gabbidon: Our fighting spirit will keep us up (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Gabbidon: Our fighting spirit will keep us up

10:20am Thursday 18th March 2010 in

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DANNY GABBIDON wants West Ham to be full of battling spirit so they can storm Arsenal’s Emirates fortress on Saturday.

The serial comeback man of Upton Park has needed plenty of it himself in recent years. He did not play at all in the 2008-09 season, and then he was struck down with a hamstring injury last December.

So on the topic of relegation from the Premier League, Gabbidon has the resolve of one who has battled back from the brink time and again.

“We have to show that fighting attitude for the rest of the season,” said the defender. “We’ve got Arsenal next week.

“We have to show those qualities if we are going to stay in the league, and I’m sure we are going to do just that.”

West Ham are fourth-bottom in the table going into the Arsenal clash, after last weekend’s 4-1 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

“We have to keep battling, give 110 per cent,” the injury-prone Welshman said. “We have got a few games coming up where we should pick up some points.

“We are not playing too badly at the moment, so we have to keep doing what we are doing and I think we will be fine.”

Gabbidon has good news for fans about the hamstring. “Yes it is fine, touch wood. I was pleased to get through the (Chelsea) game. It was a tough game for myself.

“But if I can take one thing from the game, it is that I have come through it and I’m feeling okay.

“It has been frustrating, the little niggles have not helped.

“I got into the team and I was just beginning to find my form and I was on the sidelines again. I’ve had to start all over again and get my fitness back.”

Gabbidon played against Chelsea after an angry Gianfranco Zola made sweeping changes to the team that lost 2-1 to Bolton two weeks ago.

He acknowledged that West Ham have not travelled well during this campaign.

“It (Chelsea) was a tough game and people would not have expected us to get anything from the match. But, at times we did quite well,” he added. “We have to take that attitude into the remaining games and stay positive and hopefully we can pick up a few more points to see us safe.”

Another player who will hope to play this weekend is Swiss teenager Fabio Daprela.

The defender deputised at left-back for the injured Julien Faubert against Chelsea, admitting he is ‘disappointed’ by his lack of first-team chances.

“It has been a little bit disappointing yes, but I am okay. I am young, I am playing for the Swiss under-19s and I am still learning,” he said. “It has been a difficult season for the whole club. When the manager needs me to play, I play. When he needs me on the bench it’s okay.”