Avram Grant hopes Saturday's 3-1 Premier League victory over fellow strugglers Wigan is the start of better things to come for West Ham.
The Irons recorded a first win since the end of September following goals from Valon Behrami, Victor Obinna and Scott Parker.
However, it was not enough to lift them off the bottom after Wolves secured a late win over Sunderland, but they are now only three points from safety.
The match had been billed by the West Ham board as the "save our season game", although manager Grant maintained that was more aimed at supporters to get behind the team than a shot across his bow.
Nevertheless, there was more than a sense of relief around the Boleyn Ground at the final whistle, after Robert Green had saved a penalty from substitute Mauro Boselli and Tom Cleverley netted a consolation with a dipping drive on 85 minutes.
"It was a good win and a convincing victory, I am happy for us and hope it is only the beginning," Grant said.
"We played like we have all of the other games, but were more efficient today.
"We won, this is the difference and this is the name of the game.
"We started a bit nervous, which you can understand from our position in the league and the last game at Liverpool.
"But the players always tried to do the right thing, were fighting and they have responded.
"We are trying to build a good mentality, which is important."
Grant insisted still being bottom was not a concern.
"We have played only 15 games, so at the moment it does not really matter if Wolves win or the others do - we need to do our job," he said.
"When you come to the last few games, it is important, but now the teams who are in the top 10 can be in the bottom.
"We are only nine points from the middle. That is something you can close, especially when you have 20 more games to go."
The Irons boss was also not concerned how much emphasis had been placed on victory by owners David Sullivan and David Gold.
"It was a marketing thing, and I always say to them you can do anything you want, as long as you don't come in my area," he quipped.
"Maybe because of them the supporters were very good today."
Parker played despite suffering the effects of a chest infection and Grant hailed the all-action midfielder.
"Scott was great. He has all the good old fashioned character about the English game," Grant said.
"He always gives it 100%, he was sick but came in and wanted to push to play, and scored a fantastic goal.
"He did unbelievable things today and is the modern midfield player - wins balls, blocks shots, scoring goals, giving assists. What more can you say?"
Latics boss Roberto Martinez felt his men did not do themselves justice as they missed the chance to put some daylight between them and the bottom three.
"We conceded three very cheap goals for our standards, and that is something we will work on," he said.
"We had a few players missing, but that is not an excuse. You got the feeling nothing was going our way.
"There was a good opportunity to get back into the game with the penalty, and then even at the end we got a good goal ruled out.
"It is quite clear to me the things we need to work on, but I was pleased with the reaction towards the end.
"It was a day of a real test of character, and that was there, but in football you cannot concede cheap goals, otherwise you are making things very difficult.
"We just weren't ourselves today, and that is where the work is going to be."
