Upson glad for Zola

Matthew Upson believed Gianfranco Zola was beginning to get his rewards after West Ham ground out a 0-0 draw with Liverpool at Anfield.

The result saw the Reds go one point clear of Chelsea at the top of the Premier League but it was the Hammers who had the better chances to claim victory.

It was also West Ham’s third successive clean sheet and Upson explained the improvement in the defence.

He told Setanta Sports 1: “It’s a massive result: it’s another clean sheet and perhaps at the end we could have nicked something.

“He (Zola) stuck to his beliefs: he had had a bit of pressure to change things.

“He has got us more organised and drilled and started to change things.

“I’m very happy here at the moment, the team are doing well, I’ve just got to take each game as it comes.”

Former Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy hit the post with a long-range shot in the first half and he also rued the side’s inability to convert their chances.

“I’d love to see Liverpool win every game for the rest of the season apart from when we play them. I’m West Ham now,” he said.

“We tried to make it frustrating for them and also had decent opportunities.

“It’s very difficult to get a result here because they have great players.

“But maybe we could have got a goal at the end.”