David Moyes was understandably happy after watching his West Ham side beat Watford 3-1 in Stratford - but insisted that the job is not quite complete yet.
Only a mathematical miracle could result in West Ham being relegated from the Premier League this season after they rose to 15th in the table courtesy of a comfortable win against their relegation rivals.Yet Moyes was keen to play down the importance of the vital victory with at least one more point required to absolutely guarantee survival.
"I am respectful to the other managers because I know the situation they are in and how they are feeling," said Moyes during his post-match presser. "They might look at the results and hope things go the right way for them.
"We haven’t got it done yet, we have got to pick up more points if we can. Tonight was obviously a big night because Watford are one of our competitors and we did a good job getting three points, which was always going to be difficult.
"The big thing was to get a win and get ourselves up the table, which we did. It’s not got us completely safe but it has got us in a really strong position. I think we can win more games between now and the end of the season but if we don’t, I hope this points total will be enough to keep us up.
"I'm really pleased with the players, they had a great work ethic, performed exceptionally well in the first half and defended well in the second half. I knew the game would be tight but we made it easier [for ourselves] with the goals we scored in the first half."
It's the second time Moyes has now lifted West Ham free of relegation worries in three seasons and his reward, barring any dramatic change, will be a first summer transfer window and full season in the top flight as West Ham boss.
And, he says, it is an opportunity he will relish. " I knew I would be here next season as I have a contract for next year so that was never really a thing," he said when asked about the situation.
"The big thing was to make sure we were a Premier League club and not a Championship club and we haven’t quite done that yet."
With regards to tonight's performance - and specifically the first half - Moyes admitted that it was one of the best he's enjoyed as West Ham boss in either of his two spells at the club so far.
"It was the best start and the best finishing - clean and concise," he said. "But I think we have played better, I thought we played so well in the first half at Norwich.
"We're starting games better, the opening games of the restart we didn't start to well and we were onto the players about it but the finishing today was clean when we got the chances. Against Burnley we had chances but we didn't take them. We did tonight.
"I am really pleased that we stood firm [in the second half], especially after their goal. I said at half time if we got a fourth it was over, but it wouldn't be until we did. If they get a goal then it will change.
"Unfortunately we gave them that opportunity and that chance. But we did well and stuck at it. We brought Ben Johnson in because of an injury to Ryan Fredericks in what was such a big game for him and the boys at the back. I didn't enjoy the second half, but we saw it through."
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