Avram Grant reflected on a "very good Christmas" after West Ham dragged themselves out of the relegation zone with a 2-0 win over Wolves.
Freddie Sears, a product of the West Ham academy and lifelong Irons fan, secured what could prove to be three crucial points 10 minutes from time with a first goal since scoring on his debut in March 2008.
Grant's side had goalkeeper Robert Green to thank with a string of fine saves before they went ahead when Ronald Zubar scored an own goal at the start of the second half.
Sylvan Ebanks-Blake hit the woodwork as Wolves rallied before Sears then rammed home Tal Ben Haim's cross to haul the Hammers off the bottom and send Wolves there instead.
Grant had reportedly been given the hectic festive schedule to turn around his team's fortunes, or face the axe.
After a win at Fulham and then the 1-1 draw with Everton, the former Chelsea and Portsmouth manager can perhaps rest somewhat more easy.
"It has been a very good Christmas, a good week for us," the Israeli said.
"I felt before this run that we were very efficient, but you can imagine how the players feel - they are very happy.
"Now we are getting the wins we deserve, including this one against Wolves, so we're very happy but there is a long way to go."
Grant added: "It's much nicer to be out of the bottom three but we know we have a long way to go to do what we want to do - but after what's happened in the last month this was nice.
"We are trying to play for ourselves at this stage of the season. I can tell you the spirit was always good, they wanted to get out of this situation.
"We played three games in six days and we have done very well. So I am very happy and I am sure we will continue like we are doing and stay efficient.
"We always knew the gap to the others was not a big gap, but we want to make a good result in Newcastle on Wednesday."
With the Irons boss seeing his options depleted by injury, Grant was also glad to see fellow academy graduates James Tomkins and Junior Stanislas make an impression as well as Sears, who was recalled from a loan spell at Scunthorpe.
"The three of them are young players from our Academy and are doing a good job," said Grant.
"Freddie has done well on loan even if he hasn't scored, but he scored a fantastic goal."
For Wolves, the result was a major disappointment following their superb midweek victory at Liverpool.
Next up is a clash against champions Chelsea, before a trip to Manchester City followed by dates with Liverpool again, Manchester United and Arsenal in February.
However, with his side still only two points behind the 15th-placed Hammers, Wolves boss Mick McCarthy is not about to throw in the towel just yet.
"We are two points from safety and as far as I am aware we are not getting relegated in the morning," he said.
"We are scrapping away and we played well enough.
"We have to just keep playing in the last two games without giving goals away.
"Both teams would have been a little bit sensitive and fragile, whoever concedes the first, yet we should have equalised to be honest."
