West Ham midfielder Declan Rice was delighted with his goal in their victory over Sheffield United.

Speaking to West Ham TV, the England international revealed he could not remember the last time he scored from the spot before hailing his teammates' performance in blunting the Blades.

Rice remarked: “It was a top performance. I think before the game we went into it knowing what was at stake and where we could go and I think it was a really good performance.

“The West Ham of last year would have probably drawn that or lost that game, if I'm being honest, but this year we've reality chanced the mentality and the desire and the quality.

“Everything has gone up another level and that's why we are where we are in the table now, so let's keep that going."

He added: "It's a weird because I've never taken a pen in the Premier League before but I've kind of got a routine where I take a couple of deep breaths to compose myself and visualise the ball hitting the back of the net.

“I knew my chance would come to take a pen and I'm just happy I scored because in my Academy days I think I missed every one, so to be on one and score was a real buzz!"