Ahead of West Ham United's trip to Brighton & Hove Albion, Danny Ings has the Last Word...
After the win against Nottingham Forest, it’s important we kick on against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday afternoon. I obviously wanted to be back on the pitch as soon as possible after last weekend, so it was frustrating to be cup-tied for the FA Cup match against Manchester United on Wednesday.
At Old Trafford, the lads played really well and were unlucky not to get over the line. But while we didn’t get the result in the end, you can see from recent performances that we’ve continued to make positive steps as a squad, and hopefully, we can continue that on Saturday.
To make my full debut against Forest was obviously an important moment for me, and you want to get off to the best start you can. So, with two goals, and a win, all in front of the home support, I am pretty happy with how it went. I think we played really well too, and obviously, while it was important on a personal note to get my first goals for the Club, as it takes the pressure off and allows you to build some momentum, as a team, I think we were really solid across the pitch.
I think we showed what we can do as a group of players and in the second half we really clicked and got the reward with four goals. It was just about being ruthless in front of the goal when we got our chances and, while we should have been ahead before the break, we showed how clinical we can be in the second half. We stayed persistent, dominated the game from start to finish, and now it is about taking that result on the road.
We know Brighton will be a tough opponent. I scored a double against them earlier this season for Aston Villa, but they are a difficult side to play and really make you work hard for your possession and your chances. They keep the ball really well, so as a striker you know you are going to have to do a lot of work when you don’t have it.
Already, I know this is a very talented group of players and I have really enjoyed my first month with the Club. It is now about kicking on, on a personal note and as a team too, and hopefully, we can start that against Brighton and then when we return to European action next week.
