West Ham travel to Loftus Road tonight looking to haul themselves clear of the relegation mire with a win over Fulham.

Only goal difference separates the Hammers from a place in the drop zone -- and a heavy defeat to the free-scoring west London side could see them return to the bottom three.

But victory in this game in hand could see the Irons climb the table to 14th place and put some much-needed daylight between themselves and the strugglers.

And that is exactly what manager Glenn Roeder wants to see after a difficult start to the campaign.

"We are out of the bottom three for the first time," he said. "We got off to a bad start and this is the first time we've lifted ourselves off the bottom.

"Now we want to make sure we don't go back there again -- starting with the game at Fulham tonight."

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Published Wednesday October 23, 2002

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