West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce has called upon striker Nicky Maynard to show some patience in front of goal.

The 25-year-old has found the net just once since joining the Hammers from Bristol City in January.

While acknowledging that Maynard has been presented with enough chances to score more goals, Allardyce believes that his centre-forward should not be worried by his drought.

"Nicky scored at Blackpool and has had other opportunities," Allardyce told the London Evening Standard. "He had a couple of chances at Cardiff and one at Leeds on Saturday where I would have backed him to slide it under the goalkeeper.

"He's the same as any of our players, though, they have to continue to take responsibility and not lose patience.

"If you score you take the pressure off yourself but if you don't then, it piles back on."

Maynard is expected to start on the bench for this evening's Championship fixture against Middlesbrough.