West Ham United took a small step on the road to recovery with the 2-0 win over Middlesbrough on Saturday, but it will take a giant leap for the team to avoid relegation. Eggert Magnússon, has set the team a target of taking a further 12 points to reach 38 and possible safety this season.

Closing the five-point gap to Sheffield United, whom West Ham play on Saturday week, appears to be a big challenge with three of the top four teams still to play, starting with Arsenal on Saturday.

Eggert says“If we get to around 38 points we will be OK, There has obviously been a lack of confidence, but now that is returning and the players feel that we can beat any team, we have a good chance”.

“Our side is far too good to go down. There has been so much that has gone wrong, like losing 6-0 away to Reading in January, and other matches when you do not really know what is happening. I can cope though. A bad result goes quickly through the system for me. I can be really mad, but only for a few seconds.”

Eggert Magnússon has backed Alan Curbishley, the manager, to rebuild the team if they are relegated. That could cost the club more than £16 million in television and gate receipts, as well as possible losses on the five permanent signings that the club made during the January transfer window.

A large number of players are expected to leave, but not for the same financial reasons as when the club were relegated four years ago, when 13 players left for about £18 million.