Allardyce challenges Hammers to win remaining games

Sam Allardyce insists West Ham are back in the race for automatic promotion from the npower Championship after their stunning 6-0 drubbing of Brighton.

The Hammers shrugged off their recent home misery by blitzing Gus Poyet's play-off hopefuls with three goals in the first 10 minutes, before finishing them off in the second half. It means Allardyce's side, who had slipped off the pace following a rotten run of seven home matches without a win, are now just three points behind second-placed Southampton with three games to play. "That was overdue and that is the problem," admitted the Upton Park boss. "We needed three points and to win them in such style was thrilling and gives everyone a little bit more belief we can do what we wanted to do at the start of the season. "Everything about the game was fantastic from start to finish and they were a well-deserved six goals. Now we have to see if we can keep up our magnificent away record at Bristol City on Tuesday."