WEST HAM manager Sam Allardyce has come out fighting against those supporters who have called for him to be sacked, labelling their criticism as ‘‘nonsense’’.

A banner unfurled during last weekend’s 1-0 defeat to relegation-threatened West Brom declared a certain number of Hammers supporters were keen for owners David Gold and David Sullivan to replace Allardyce.

The 59-year-old was also given little backing in an online poll conducted across independent fans’ sites, with over three-quarters of respondents wanting to see the former Bolton manager’s 35- month tenure at Upton Park brought to an end.

Many have cited negative tactics as the reason for their unrest, but Allardyce believes a recent barren run of results has seen some fans turn on him – claiming a 0-0 draw at Chelsea, which saw the Blues have 39 shots to West Ham’s one, was celebrated as a triumph despite Jose Mourinho describing it as ‘‘19th Century football’’.

‘‘It is a nonsense,’’ said Allardyce of the fans’ criticisms.

‘‘Their perception is because we haven’t won (in four games).

‘‘When we went to Chelsea and they were all very, very happy that was based purely on a well-structured defensive ploy with little or no football at all. But it was still hailed as a great performance.

‘‘You can’t expand and open up against Chelsea because you lose five or six-nil.

We play to win when we play a game and if we don’t play to win we play not to lose. Our biggest problem is that we haven’t drawn enough in between the wins.’’ Allardyce welcomes Tottenham to Upton Park in tomorrow’s early kick-off looking to record a third victory of the season over their London rivals