West Ham goal hero Hayden Mullins believes Gianfranco Zola's positive atttitude is rubbing off on him and his West Ham team-mates.

Mullins scored his first goal in two years in the 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough to end a sequence of four defeats, and the midfield player said: "We've been on a bad run but you have to stay positive. The manager has come in every day with a smile on his face and he brings all his experience into training."

Zola, forced by injuries to play youngsters Freddie Sears and Jack Collison against Middlesbrough, said: "I was really pleased with them.

"It was a tough match even for experienced players. They didn't look like youngsters out there and that is a big compliment."

Welsh international Collison, who had a great chance to win the game for West Ham near the end, said: "When I get opportunities like this, it's up to me to go out and impress."