I was buoyed by Albion's performance at Coventry on Saturday, which was just as well as I have been shocked by the number of fans already resigned to relegation.

The kind of defeatist talk since the home draw with Burnley just after Christmas just won't do at this stage of the season.

Think back six years to the 1996-97 season when Steve Gritt's team were in a far worse situation at the bottom of Division Three. The Seagulls got out of it then and I think they can now.

Some fans think if chairman Dick Knight had appointed Steve Coppell in the summer, Albion would have at least 30 points by now and a mid-table finish would be a formality.

If Bobby Zamora hadn't got injured against Norwich, if Michel Kuipers hadn't been ruled out so early on, if Graham Barrett hadn't been suspended, if Paul Kitson had played in all of the matches - the sports editor could probably fill the whole back page today with Albion ifs.

The bottom line is that, at present, Albion have not been relegated. They have proved, with a full strength squad, they can compete at this level.

If 50 points is the magic number to survive, (even I can't stop using the if word now), Albion will need a rich run of form to reach this target.

But who is to say they can't do it? One thing is for sure, with Steve Coppell in charge, it won't be for the want of trying.

Regardless of what he has or hasn't done off the pitch, or what kind of person he is, Lee Bowyer is a great footballer who will help his new West Ham team-mates to Premiership survival. That is the only reason Glenn Roeder signed him.

Like all decent people, I abhor racism in any shape or form but I seriously wonder about the legitimacy or credibility of the Hammers Against Racism lobby.

How many protesters were there because they support West Ham, rather than pursuing their own political agendas in front of the television cameras?

I'd seriously question the 50-something woman I saw spouting off about the evils of Bowyer. I doubt she would know the difference between Clyde Best and Geoff Hurst.

If these individuals are that upset by the Bowyer signing, there is a simple solution - don't go to Upton Park any more - although I doubt many of them did before he signed.

The lure of the media and a chance to be relatively famous for 15 minutes, even if it was only in their circle of anoraks, was too much to resist.

Roeder has thought long and hard about making his decision and the players are obviously in favour of it. What a shame about the very small moralistic minority.

Are they really West Ham fans? Will the newly-purchased scarves and hats be discarded when the next crusade comes along?

West Ham at home or Stop the War in central London?

I can hear the chants now: "Blair Out!"

Congratulations to the Brighton Bears on winning the National Trophy.

Despite their success, the minority appeal of basketball would mean an open top bus parade around the city would be a damp squib.

But it would be nice to think Albion might invite the team to parade their trophy at Withdean during half-time before the end of the season.