WEST HAM boss Gianfranco Zola believes that 10 or 11 more points this season may well be enough to preserve the Hammers Premier League survival. Speaking after Saturday s 3-0 victory over Hull City, Zola revealed just how much he and his staff have been t

WEST HAM boss Gianfranco Zola believes that 10 or 11 more points this season may well be enough to preserve the Hammers Premier League survival.

Speaking after Saturday's 3-0 victory over Hull City, Zola revealed just how much he and his staff have been thinking about a prospective final points tally.

"We don't know whether 37 or 38 points will be enough to be safe," mused the Italian. "Honestly, I don't know because there have been surprise results, like Tottenham losing against Wolves.

"We think it might be 37 or 38 points, but we will try to get 40 points if we can."

Hull City stayed up with 35 points last season, a target that West Ham were only eight points away from before last night's (Tuesday's) trip to Old Trafford.

But even if the result went against them on the night, it seems likely that home games against Bolton Wanderers, Wolves, Stoke City, Sunderland, Wigan and Manchester City will glean enough points to stay up.

Zola is certainly more relaxed than he appeared around Christmas time. Not surprising, the situation off the field has stabilised and the team are beginning to win on it.

"It has been hard for me, but also for the players as well," said Zola. "When things are going on all around you, you are trying to repair that and repair that and repair that and then suddenly something else happened.

"Now the situation has become stable, the results will come because this team has got quality, no doubt about that."

The manager is certainly much more positive these days, though he insisted that his trademark smile had never gone away.

"It is part of the job to be up and down," he said. "When things are not going very well you suffer a lot, now things are getting better and, as far as I'm concerned, I'm much more pleased.

"It is different to go to games where you know you can play a little bit more relaxed. The quality and the results will be affected positively."

n MEANWHILE, West Ham's two trips to Merseyside this season have been switched.

The game against Everton at Goodison Park has been moved from Saturday, April 3 to the following day, with a 4pm kick-off for Sky TV coverage.

Then West Ham's annual failure at Anfield has been switched from Saturday, April 17 to Monday April 19 with an 8pm kick-off for ESPN TV coverage.