Sam Allardyce was philosophical in his assessment of the Hammers this season ahead of West Ham United’s Premier League fixture against Southampton at St. Mary’s (7.45pm kick off).

The club’s away record has been relatively poor this term, with only one win in their last seven, away from Upton Park, but a return of 37 points from 24 matches is the best they have managed in the Premier League era.

However, Allardyce is refusing to get too carried away and is wary of a miserly Saints side that has kept 11 clean sheets and boast the best defensive record in the league, conceding just 17 goals.

Speaking to the club website, Allardyce said: "I think for us, it's just trying to take each game as it comes. With 14 games left we're coming to the end of the season, we've done so well and come far. We want to get more wins than draws because we've slipped down the table a little bit.

“Southampton have managed to keep on winning, but we've let leads slip and ended up drawing too many times. They've lost their last league game against Swansea City which we've studied."

West Ham come into the game off the back of a 1-1 draw with Manchester United and Allardyce wants his side to build on that point at a ground where they have not managed to win since November 2000.

“We have to pick up from where we left against United. They gave everything they possibly had and we want to maintain that level in every game for the rest of the season,” said Allardyce.

“We're going to need to push ourselves in order to win. We had a bit of a lull in our performances recently but to see us back to near our best was a big boost. We don't want our season to fade away."

The Hammers are still without Winston Reid and James Collins, while Andy Carroll is doubtful. But they have been boosted with the news James Tomkins will be available despite breaking his nose.