While an FA Cup fifth round tie away at Championship Blackburn Rovers is unlikely to stir the emotions of most football supporters, West Ham are not just any club and the FA Cup is something that the fans have always embraced.

More than 7,000 Hammers made the trip north to Blackburn on a Sunday for a game which was live on television.

Every club will praise their away supporters but, regardless, this was a fantastic turn out from the travelling masses who have welcomed this season as a breath of fresh air after so many seasons of struggle or abysmal football.

Slaven Bilic was quick to point out how important the FA Cup is to him and West Ham as a club.

Those words really spoke to me and it was so refreshing to hear a West Ham manager talk about actually trying to win something as opposed to be thankful that we are not in the relegation zone.

Sam Allardyce returns to Upton Park on Saturday as manager of Sunderland.

I am not sure why Sunderland fans are in the slightest bit concerned about the prospect of relegation as they cannot possible be go down under the management of Allardyce.

I know this because I’ve been told it countless times. So don’t fret Sunderland fans – it’s impossible for you to be relegated.

It is difficult to talk about West Ham at the moment without mentioning Dimitri Payet. His form has been exceptional.

Earlier in the season I didn’t want to go too over the top about his performances but he has been truly outstanding.

The FA Cup quarter-finals will see West Ham go up against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

There will be 10,000+ Hammers travelling to this game. There isn’t a team in the land I fear at the moment and, while I would have preferred a game at the Boleyn, I relish the prospect of getting a positive result up there.

I mention it a lot but the criticism and derision West Ham received in the summer and at the start of the season was completely without foundation and has been proven to be laughable.

The media – and West Ham fans – lined up to tell me sacking Allardyce was the worst thing West Ham could do and relegation would surely follow. That was extreme.

But we have thrown it all in their faces. The backing the manager received from the owners was needed but praise has to be heaped on Bilic as he has turned this club around from some of the most disenchanting years I can recall in my time as a supporter.

The season isn’t over and there are some big games still to come which I really cannot wait for.