Grant: Obinna will get better

Grant: Obinna will get better

Published Jan. 31, 2011 7:15 a.m. ET

New Hammers loan signing Robbie Keane was at Upton Park to see striker Victor Obinna score a hat-trick on Sunday. And Grant insists Keane is just the sort of character the Hammers need in their fight against relegation. Grant said: "He (Keane) is not just a good player, he is a good character that we need in the next 14 games." Grant still intends to add another signing to the reinforcements he has already made to his squad before the deadline. Gary O'Neil, Demba Ba and Wayne Bridge have all arrived at West Ham during the transfer window. Obinna scored two goals in the first half against Forest and completed his hat-trick with a penalty in the second after Joel Lynch had brought down Winston Reid. Grant said of Obinna: "He is a good talent. He has not played so many games in the last few years and he is developing. He will get better and better. He scored three goals but we need him to be efficient in the league games." Dele Adebola and Dave McGoldrick scored the goals for a Forest side who were the better team for large periods of an entertaining cup tie which served to highlight West Ham's defensive shortcomings. Grant, however, was delighted with West Ham's response following their Carling Cup semi-final defeat against Birmingham. Grant said: "It was very disappointing, the result on Wednesday, especially after the first half when we thought everything was going like we wanted it to. But the most important thing is the reaction and it was very good. "We didn't play well in the first half but in the second half we dominated." On a fifth-round tie against Burnley, Grant added: "It's always good to play at home, they know how to support us and push us. I hope to be in the quarter-finals and then it will be interesting. "But our target is the league, that is the most important thing, but winning in the FA Cup or the Carling Cup is also a good feeling." Nottingham Forest manager Billy Davies was generous towards West Ham although he felt his side could easily have won. Davies said: "It's nice to come to the academy of football and play the way we did in the first half. We lost a terrible goal after two minutes or so but then deservedly got in front and it looked as if their second goal was fortunate. "We played fantastic football in the first 45 minutes, flowing, chances galore. In the second half we gave away a goal and after that we were chasing things. "I am proud of the players. We showed fantastic stuff, but in the end it was down to experience." Davies believed it demonstrated what Forest, currently in the Championship play-off positions, could expect to face in the Premier League. Davies said: "Look at their bench and it has got depth and quality. This is a fantastic football club with a great squad of players. Irrespective of their league position they have got some great players here, real talent. We have got to realise that is what we are facing. "In the first 45 minutes we looked a very good side, in the second half our inexperience and our tired legs showed, but it was a real big effort."

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