West Ham United captain Kevin Nolan has told his troops that they need to hit the ground running against Cardiff next weekend.
With the first team pre-season programme completed in style yesterday with a 2-0 win over Real Zaragoza, Nolan - speaking to the Sunday Mirror - insisted that the Hammers need to get off to a flying start next Sunday."We have to come out all guns blazing," he said. "We have to hit the ground running, there is no hiding place. The stakes are high and there is immense pressure on us.
"The least we should expect is promotion; anything else will merely be an unmitigated disaster. This club doesn’t belong in the Championship and we have to make damn sure we don’t stay here either."
The 29-year-old also insisted that the team will have to be at the top of their game for each of the 46 outings this season - as the opposition will inevitably raise theirs.
"Everyone will want to beat us," he asserted. "This will be their biggest game of the campaign. Opposing teams will come to Upton Park looking for a major scalp, you’re a team to be shot at.
"But if we apply ourselves on the pitch and get the supporters right behind us I see no reason why we shouldn’t be celebrating come April/May."
You may read the full interview with Nolan here.
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