West Ham United striker Carlton Cole insists the players are fully behind manager Gianfranco Zola.

Cole is convinced that Zola is the man to guide West Ham to safety.

He told the London Evening Standard: "It's natural when things are going bad that it's all doom and gloom but the manager is the best I have worked with," said Cole, who has also played under Jose Mourinho and Alan Curbishley.

"He's put faith in the players and we're trying to respond. We're just not getting the rub of the green at the moment but we're working very hard."