Bruce believes that home form is key to the success of the season and wants a win tomorrow to bolster the push for Europe. The club has not lost at home since October when Aston Villa cruised to a 4-0 victory. Since then, the JJB has become a fortress with 5 wins and 3 draws in 8 games.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Bruce knew January and February would be a tough couple of months but with Sunderland and Hull coming up in a few games, Bruce wants a good result against West Ham.
"It is always desperately disappointing when you lose in the manner we did at Chelsea," said Bruce.
"If you go down to Chelsea and get thumped 3-0 and they are the far better team then you hold your hands up, but Saturday was the complete opposite.
"When you get beat it is nice to play again quickly and try to make up for it.
"I would hope we can bounce back and get a good result against West Ham tomorrow, and that then sets us up nicely with 10 games to go.
"The result is important. We have an outstanding chance, because our home form has been good and we have been playing well of late and not just getting the win.
"The question is 'can we get the win which will kick-start us on again?'
"We have gone seven games without a win - I always knew January and February was going to be tough - and maybe with a bit more luck we could have come out with a few more points.
"But we are still in there. We are in the top 10 going into the last 10 or 11 games - so let's kick on."
A win will see the club leapfrog West Ham in the table in what is going to be a game which signals the clubs ambitions of European football being brought to the JJB Stadium next season.
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