New West Ham boss Alan Curbishley wants the team to rediscover last season's "hunger" when facing Manchester United in his first game in charge on Sunday.
Match reaction to follow later.
Ironically, Curbishley's last game after 15 years as Charlton manager, at the end of last season, was also against United - but at Old Trafford.
The Hammers are currently third from bottom in the Premiership.
"Last season we had a newly-promoted hunger. We have to recapture it," Curbishley told the club website.
"We have got to get it back quickly and start winning some games."
Curbishley was given the task of reviving West Ham's season when he took over from Alan Pardew on 13 December. A dismal return of a mere 10 goals in 17 Premiership games this season and three defeats in a week without scoring, culminating in last Saturday's 4-0 thumping at Bolton, led to chairman Eggert Magnusson to axing Pardew.
And Curbishley has made it clear he expects an instant improvement, starting on Sunday.
"We find ourselves in a difficult position and the quicker we get out of it, the better," he stated.
"That's what the focus is on - if we can push ourselves out of that area and into the top half of the table, we can enjoy the rest of the season and begin to build for the future.
"You cannot take the Premiership for granted. Teams like Watford and Sheffield United will take a defeat then come in on Monday morning looking forward to the next game because it is all new, all fresh and everyone is aggressive about it."
