West Ham United defender Jonathan Spector says manager Gianfranco Zola can feel justified over his decision to give his players time off last month.

Since their three-day break, West Ham have taken four points from two games.

USA international Spector says: "We may have had some criticism for it but I think the results we've had since then prove it was the right decision.

"The manager put his trust in us and I think we paid him back. I think we all needed to get away and clear our heads, come back and start afresh."