Zola's Christmas wishes come true

Gianfranco Zola is not known for being bad but he must have been a very, very good boy this year after Christmas delivered his side six points and a place in the top half of the table.
When Zola was writing his festive wish list just a week ago his team were one point and one place above the relegation zone with all the talk of a fire-sale at the ‘crisis’ club.
West Ham’s financial concerns will not go away but the manager had his old bounce back and said after the Stoke win that he had been assured by the club’s hierarchy that the owner’s money worries would not affect him.
The truth of that remains to be seen when the transfer window opens tomorrow but a crisis doesn’t look as much like a crisis when you are sitting just three points off the European places.
And unlike other ‘crisis’ clubs it appears as though all the playing staff and coaches are pulling in the same direction whatever happens in the boardroom.
Twice over the festive period the Hammers had to come from behind to win - with Sunday’s 2-1 victory over Stoke City coming courtesy of Carlton Cole’s equaliser and Diego Tristan‘s late deflection.After the game Zola was keen to point out the resilience shown by his players.
He said: “It tells you a lot about the attitude of the players and the willingness to succeed.
“It is very important. “It has been difficult. Confidence here at home was low and. we fell behind after a few minutes against a team that especially when they are winning are very difficult to break down.
“To come back and win is a big, big turning point for us. I am pleased for the players, for everybody.
“We are very committed to the cause of West Ham.
"The manager was particularly pleased for striker Cole - whose goalscoring record has been questioned by some parts of the media - after he added to his goal against Portsmouth by grabbing the first against Stoke and seeing his late shot deflected in for the second.
When asked if he had thought about leaving the big striker out Zola said he had faith the goals would come and said Cole gives much more to the team than just goals.
He said: “He is a player that I know even if he doesn't score he gives something to the team.
"He has always been like that. I just wanted him to keep working and scoring.
"I am pleased for him.”