Hammers 2 games from disaster -Paintsil

JOHN PANTSIL believes West Ham will go down if they do not win their next two games.

The Hammers are five points from safety and must beat relegation rivals Watford on Saturday and Charlton two weeks later to have any chance of avoiding the drop.

Alan Curbishley’s side have managed only three points from the last 27 and defender Pantsil says they can wave goodbye to the Premiership unless they turn things around fast.

Ghana defender Pantsil said: “The next two games are massive. We’ve already lost at home to Watford in the FA Cup and now we have them again in the Premiership.

“These games will be tough for us. We have to focus and put our heads together and be strong.

“We have to win at all costs. We can’t even go for a draw.

“If we lose will we go down? Yeah, I think so, but I’m not thinking about losing. I just believe we need to win this game at all costs.”

The Hornets are rock bottom of the table on 15 points, five adrift of Charlton and West Ham who are separated by goal difference.

However, the Hammers are suffering from a defensive crisis with new signings Matthew Upson and Lucas Neill both out injured. And right-back Pantsil admits the mounting casualty list has taken its toll.

He added: “Injuries count because a lot of our key players are getting knocks and we don’t know why.

“This is costing us in defence. We don’t have enough experienced defenders because of the injury situation.

“When people like Gabbidon and Ferdinand get injured you are in trouble. These are fantastic players and we need them at the back.

“But I believe that when they and some of the other players come back, things will be OK for West Ham.” Pantsil, who has been frozen out since Curbs took charge at Upton Park, may now be given a chance to help dig his side out of trouble.

He said: “The manager has to choose the right people and the strongest team for the club to stay in the league.

“He is trying to do his best and we are trying to do our best for him.

“I started three games before getting injured against Liverpool.

“Since then, it hasn’t worked well for me. So I had to fight back for my position.

"It’s been difficult for me but the manager knows the quality of player I am and I hope maybe the time will come when I get the opportunity.”

West Ham’s proposal to move to London’s Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Games was formally rejected yesterday.

The Hammers wanted a capacity of around 60,000, which would have changed the timeframe for construction due to design alterations.

Officials have also ruled out other Premiership clubs moving to the ground, with Tottenham looking to increase their capacity or relocate from White Hart Lane.