The Hammers are currently enjoying their best run of the season having notched up three successive wins and are now only in the relegation zone on goal difference. Their reward for last week's 3-0 thrashing of Stoke was a four-day trip to the Vale do Lobo in the Algarve where they worked on their fitness ahead of Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final with the Potters. West Ham's players have talked widely about their experiences on the trip this week, with Jack Collison revealing Carlton Cole had taken to the microphone in a comedy karaoke session. Grant has placed a lot of emphasis on team-bonding in recent weeks, also taking the squad go-karting and clay pigeon shooting, in an attempt to develop a strong team-spirit ahead of a tough run-in of games that will define whether they will be playing Premier League football next season. The Israeli took Portsmouth down last season and is convinced the mood in the West Ham camp is good enough to ensure the Hammers do not suffer the same fate this time around. "The players were very happy to be together, for the training and for everything else. The most important was that they were there as a team in Portugal," Grant said. "They went fishing, they did golf. It's always good to be together even if it is only for a few days. "The atmosphere is better now. The training (on Friday) was a lot of happiness. Also we know that there are some tough games to come but we are on our way." Should West Ham beat Stoke at the Britannia Stadium, it will be the first time they have recorded four successive victories since May 2007.
