Mark Noble well aware of the extra factor

With West Ham having been a ­Premier League club only four months ago, Noble believes opponents see his side as a notable scalp.

As a result, teams are trying to frustrate West Ham such as on Saturday when Peterborough limited the hosts to a 1-0 win with Noble scoring the only goal from the penalty spot.

"We are fully aware that every team who come here will put that little bit extra in because we are probably one of the teams to beat in the Championship this season," he said.

"We need to counter that and it's not always going to be flowing football. If we can come away with another 15 one-nil wins this season, I'll take that."

Regardless of how their opponents play, Noble knows there are areas where West Ham can improve and says they need to capitalise on the fact they have some big men in their squad.

"There were spells against Peterborough when we played really well and other times when we could have done a lot better - kept the ball which would have made it easier for us," said the midfielder.

"We also have to improve on converting those chances, getting on the end of cross after cross. We have one of the biggest teams in the League this year so we need to do better at being on the end of those crosses."

Tonight's match sees Lee Bowyer return to Upton Park and Noble believes West Ham must keep their former midfielder quiet if they are to push even nearer to top spot in the Championship.

The 34-year-old moved to Portman Road on a free transfer from Birmingham during the summer and is still a potential match winner, according to Noble.

"We're going to have to look out for Lee," he said. "He's still making those forward runs into the opposition penalty area, arriving late and he always seems to score against us.

"They have lots of experience in their side - Lee, Grant Leadbitter, Keith Andrews, Jimmy Bullard, Michael Chopra - I still think they will be up there at the end of the season.

"They've had one or two disappointing defeats but they've been better recently, beating Coventry and then drawing at Middlesbrough which was a good point.

"It's a big game for us tonight, under the lights and, hopefully, a good ­atmosphere."

Noble has fond memories of Ipswich, having spent three months on loan at the club in 2006 and during his stay there he scored his first goal in professional football.

"I loved my time at Ipswich. Jim Magilton was the manager at the time and I loved the way he wanted me to play," said the 24-year-old.

"He was brilliant with me. I enjoyed it so much I didn't want it to end really but I came back to West Ham and got in the first team so it was a great year for me."

Ipswich manager Paul Jewell believes West Ham have the quality and quantity to finish in the top two at the end of the season.

"West Ham and Leicester probably have the two best squads in the Championship," he said. "West Ham had strength and power right through their team.

Although they've sold one or two players they've also kept players like the England goalkeeper Robert Green and striker Carlton Cole, who is also in the international squad."