VETERAN West Ham defender Chris Powell is tired of being praised for showing character -and wants to see his side winning plaudits for controlling games.

At Preston before Christmas and again at bottom club Rotherham Hammers went two goals down before attempting a comeback.

And Powell is concerned that too many away trips see the team fall behind before they can get a toehold in the game.

"I'd agree we are showing our character in recent weeks, but we shouldn't have to be doing that," he said.

"A lot of these places are difficult to come because teams see us as a massive scalp, but sometimes we only seem to realise when it's too late.

"We have to win the battle first. Teams know that we have some quality players and they realise we can be too strong for them but they play to their strengths and we only tend to wake up when we are behind."