Three straight 4-0 defeats have put paid to the Hammers' lingering hopes of a top-six finish.

But Parker, 27, says all is not lost with the Hammers in 10th place as they look for a positive end to the Barclays Premier League campaign.

"It has been a bit of shock to us all that we have been on the end of a few 4-0s - but still, we'd expect to do better than that," he said.

"We have had a little blip, but we have got a big game at the weekend against Blackburn where we need to get three points."

be negative

Parker's Rovers counterpart, Republic of Ireland midfielder Steven Reid is refusing to give up on his side's bid to claim an unlikely UEFA Cup slot.

Mark Hughes' men are far from favourites to take fifth place but Reid is refusing to be negative.

He explained: "Every one of those last nine games is going to be like a Cup final now. It's going to be tough from here on in, starting with West Ham on Saturday.

"In recent seasons we haven't done ourselves justice down there but hopefully we can win there at the weekend and turn the Fulham result around."

The Cottagers held Rovers to a 1-1 draw at Ewood Park last weekend.