Noble has guts for the big games as we match the best (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Noble has guts for the big games as we match the best

9:24am Thursday 7th February 2008 in

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TO take a penalty in front of your own fans in the 93rd minute to win the game against Liverpool takes guts - and Nobes certainly has some.

Mark's a confident character which is always great to have around the squad. As soon as he stepped up I had no doubts he would score because he never misses a penalty.

It set us up for an excellent win over Liverpool and the way we played the ball, we deserved it.

Playing at Upton in midweek, under the floodlights, always makes for a special occasion. And I think the result shows that we can match the best teams in the Premier League.

Coming up against Torres was also a great experience for me. He is one of the best strikers in the world and you have to play against these types of players to test where you are at. He didn't score or have too many clear-cut chances so I'm happy with my performance.

On that note, I'm really enjoying my football and this is the first time in a long while where I'm playing with freedom. I've been able to concentrate on my football and playing for West Ham and I think that is starting to show through.

But it was disappointing to follow up that win with a defeat at Wigan. As a defender I obviously hate to let in goals and the one we let in was sloppy. Neither side created much and we should have got at least a point, although we can't use their pitch as an excuse. It was the same for them.

Now we've got two games coming up - at home against Birmingham on Saturday and then away to Fulham - which are both very winnable games and we have to make the most of it and get back to winning ways.

We should also have some quality players to come back from injury in that game or the next few weeks which will really boost the squad.

It shows the depth of the squad when the likes of Bellamy, Zamora, Faubert and Solano are all still to come back into it - they will make the squad look that much stronger and sharper.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed with not getting into the England squad. It is something every English player aspires too, but for now I just want to concentrate on West Ham.

I'm buzzing for Matty Upson though - he really deserves his call up after all the injuries he's been through. People don't see thehard work he puts in to maintain his fitness and the consistently high standards he is delivering on the pitch.