West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has said that the hopes of his club finishing in the automatic promotion spots are all but over after his side saw Southampton build a five point advantage in the table.

Only two games remain in the Championship this season and Sam Allardyce believes that it would be almost impossible for West Ham to finish in the second position.

West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce has said that he is confident of getting automatic promotion this season even though his side dropped yet more points in the Championship.

West Ham United at one of the favourites to qualify for the automatic promotion spots, but at the last few weeks has witnessed a major turnover in the fortunes of the club.

West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce has said that the 2-1 victory over Millwall during the weekend was enough to prove the character within the West Ham United dressing room.

The local derby between the two clubs was expected to be a tight encounter and it turned out to be one. West Ham United took the lead in the first half through Carlton Cole.

Sam Allardyce has said that he is extremely disappointed with the way West Ham United lost the opportunity to go level on points with Southampton at the top of the Championship table.

West Ham United could only manage a 1-1 draw with Birmingham City in the latest round of Championship fixtures, which also gave Southampton the opportunity to extend a small three point lead at the top of the table.

Sam Allardyce has a shortlist of 25 players as he looks to bolster his injury-hit West Ham squad during the January transfer window.

He is currently coping without eight first-team players, while suspensions to Jack Collison and Joey O’Brien have also made things tough.

Speaking to BBC London 94.9, he said: “There are about 25 names on my pad already at the minute.

“It is important to sift through the information we have and try to make the right choices as quickly as we can.”