Hammers could make it a hat-trick of wins this Saturday

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce is planning to make it a hat-trick of wins in eight days when Burnley come to visit Upton Park this Saturday.

Having beaten Derby County last weekend, before an impressive 2-0 win at Middlesbrough on Tuesday evening, Allardyce’s men have the chance to make it a nine-point week as they look to close the gap on league leaders Southampton and pull away from the chasing pack.

“Six wins and a draw from the last seven games and the important thing for us is that little gap that we are creating between third and ourselves,” said Allardyce.

“This gives us some breathing space and I think breeds the confidence for the players to try and continue to pick up more wins.

“We are a happy bunch at the minute and we will all just keep our feet on the ground. We are enjoying ourselves.”

Burnley come to east London on the back of two wins themselves, having remarkably fought back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at Hull City last weekend, before cruising past Ipswich Town 4-0 at Turf Moor on Tuesday night.

And Allardyce is expecting a tough test from the Clarets.

“It could be a big nine-point week for us, as long as we don’t slip up against Burnley,” he said.

“But I’ve been warning the lads that Burnley have all of a sudden sparked into two very, very good results.

“Coming back from 2-0 down at Hull City is no mean feat, I mean we had a tough, tough job to win there, and they did it from 2-0 down, and then they won 4-0 so they will be on top.”

The Hammers boss also revealed that he is aware that there are two Burnley players that will have a point to prove against his side, in the shape of winger Junior Stanislas and striker Zavon Hines.

“There is a couple of players that I sold to them, that will will want to prove me wrong when they come back,” said the 57-year-old.

“I will be telling the lads to make sure that they don’t.”

West Ham travelled to the Riverside Stadium on Tuesday with only two first-team strikers fit in Carlton Cole and Freddie Piquionne, as both John Carew and Sam Baldock were injured.

However, Allardyce revealed that Norwegian striker Carew should be fit for this weekend’s game, but Baldock is not expected back until Christmas.

“Sam will be out for about three weeks, while John won’t be so long as he has only tweaked a knee,” he said.

“I expect him to be back this weekend.”