Steven Schumacher insists the wins will come after seeing his side push the new Championship leaders all the way, writes Pete Oliver.
The Whites how now lost four successive games to sit in the bottom three of the fledgling league table. But the Wanderers’ boss is confident the tide will turn after producing another upbeat performance against a West Ham side which was gifted a winner to claim their first ever success at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.
“I've just said to the players, I can't be any prouder of them. We said that we're not going to go and stand here and fear West Ham and give them too much respect. We feel as though it's our best way to get results is to go and attack and try and be brave and positive and the players have done that,” said Schumacher after seeing his side come from behind to lead before a soft second goal from captain Jarrod Bowen 13 minutes from the end earned the Irons a third successive win.
“We played really well, created really good opportunities and showed good character to come from behind. We were unfortunate with their first goal that went in after a little bit of a ricochet, the second goal is on us – it's another set piece that we've got to do a little bit better with – and the third goal is obviously a mistake.
“But the way we've played was excellent. I’m disappointed again to lose but we've gone up against West Ham, who were Premier League last year and who I think will be in the top two, or should be, Millwall on Saturday and played really well, who finished third last year, and we went up against Sheffield United last week, who will probably be in the top six or should be in the top six with what they've got.
“We played Lincoln the game before that, so they're the four defeats where we feel as though we've done really well and I think we're getting stronger as the weeks go by. It is time to keep on getting points on the board but if we keep playing the way we are, it'll come.”
Wanderers got over the set-back of an early goal from the Hammers to equalise through Ethan Erhahon before a spot-kick from Ruben Rodrigues briefly gave Schumacher’s men the lead.
Rodrigues’ first start of the season was one of several plus-points for the Whites, with winger Kyliane Dong also shining on his full debut. And Schumacher believes the belief is there to make decent performances match-winning ones with Cardiff City – who are yet to taste victory in the league this season – the visitors on Saturday.
“The players look like they're enjoying what they're doing and I'm sure the fans are enjoying seeing how we're playing,” the head coach told Wanderers TV after a leveller from Konstantinos Mavropanos and Bowen's second of the night gave the Hammers a 3-2 victory. “I know it's disappointing that we're getting no points on the board and I don't know exactly where we are in the league. But I honestly believe if you keep playing that way you'll get what you deserve and we will win games football by playing worse than that. So we've just got to stay confident, keep believing in what we're doing, stick together and it'll come.
“I've just said to the players I'd be worried if we weren't playing well and we were stinking the gaff out and we weren’t creating chances and we were so open, but I don't think that's the case.
“We've played some really tough teams and that's going to continue. After Cardiff, we play Norwich and then the run in October doesn't get any easier. But this is the challenge, this is what we're all about and we've got to keep believing in what we're doing because as I say the effort is definitely there and I can't ask any more fromwhat we've got.
“We're doing as best as we possibly can but hopefully we can just find a way to keep getting better and get some points which is desperately needed right now.
“This league is like that and it's important that as long as the fans are seeing the effort and seeing what the players are trying to do and can see an identity or a style of how we're trying to play it'll come.
“The players will grow in confidence because they're all in there tonight thinking we've just gone toe-to-toe with a former Premier League team and we were more than a match for them.”
Watch the full interview with the boss on Wanderers TV