Scott Parker fully expects West Ham to recover from their "little blip" with victory over Blackburn at Upton Park.
Three straight 4-0 thrashings have put paid to the Hammers hopes of a top-six finish and also seen the future of manager Alan Curbishley called into question.
Parker, 27, has just returned to the team after the best part of three months out of action because of a knee injury.
The midfielder, a £7million summer signing from Newcastle, is one of several first-teamers who have been unavailable to Curbishley for one reason or another over the campaign.
Parker insists all is not lost with the Hammers in 10th place as they look for a positive end to the Premier League campaign.
"For us, it's been such a good season in terms of injuries and how we've coped. We've done really well defensively, and we defend as a team," Parker reflected.
"It has been a bit of shock to us all that we have been on the end of a few 4-0s - but still, we'd expect to do better than that.
"It has been disappointing but results are key and that's what people go on.
"We have had a little blip, but we have got a big game at the weekend against Blackburn where we need to get three points."
Parker added on the club's website, whufc.com: "We have come out of a tough run and confidence may be a little bit low on our side, while Blackburn have been doing really well.
"However, we are at home and I fully expect us to go and win the game."
Despite all of West Ham's injury worries - Julien Faubert, Danny Gabbidon, Matthew Etherington, Lee Bowyer, Craig Bellamy all are not yet fit, while Kieron Dyer broke his leg - Curbishley has, nevertheless, come under fire for a perceived negative approach and lack of flair.
Indeed, West Ham went as far as issuing a statement earlier this week, stressing their manager had the confidence of the board and sympathy over the players missing through injury.
The West Ham manager, however, is bewildered by what he sees as a lack of realism - from both some sections of the Upton Park faithful and certain media alike.
"It was a reaction to the personal stuff which has been written about me," said Curbishley, appointed in December 2006.
"When I talk to TV and radio, I know exactly what is being said and what is going out there.
"No disrespect to them, but sometimes the written stuff gets turned around, with a source here, or a source there. It becomes a bit tiresome really. But I cannot do anything about it.
"They don't make the headlines up, but certainly there are one or two agendas out there.
"I have to pinch myself sometimes to see where we are in the league - but I have just got to get on with it.
"They were disastrous results and it's been a disastrous week - but in the context of things, the hysteria surrounding it has been over the top. It is, though, something I have to live with."
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