SAM Allardyce was delighted with the lucky decision which earned Wanderers a much-needed point at Upton Park

And he was even more pleased that Michael Ricketts had finally broken his duck of scoring in open play.

He said: "Michael at last has come off the bench and put one in the net - whether it was offside or not."

Earlier he revealed that Wanderers could, in effect, be battling with clubs such as the Hammers for the signature of top players from across the continent, and to bring in the best will have to show they are a club with promise.

Allardyce said: "In many ways your job depends on who you can buy. I'm sure that Glenn looks at his situation and feels the same as me as he may not be able to strengthen his squad as he would have liked.

"At the moment I have players in my mind but it is a question of whether they still want to come because of the position we are in.

"Three or four weeks ago it was not looking too bad, but now players will look at the table and wonder if they really want to struggle at the bottom of the Premiership.

"They will wonder if a move here would enhance their career or harm it. It was not a problem last year because we were not in the bottom three.

"Players are wary of a move to the bottom unless they have completely bombed at their current club. We have taken advantage of that in the past but then you have fitness worries if they are not match fit."

While Allardyce sweats on the players that he will be able to pick up next month, his opposite number seems to have the kind of squad that most bosses in the Premiership would relish.

With England stars David James, Trevor Sinclair, Joe Cole and Michael Carrick at his disposal, as well as foreign aces such as Paolo Di Canio and Freddie Kanoute, West Ham were expected to build on the seventh position they achieved last season.

Allardyce said: "West Ham are worse off than us at the moment. We feel pressure upon ourselves, but what do they feel?