- Carrick 16/1 to score first against Ipswich and 4/1 to net
anytime on Saturday -
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Michael Carrick says it is vital to push on up the table over Easter, even if that doesn't ultimately lead to European qualification this season.
Even though the Hammers are just one win from reaching the 40 point barrier seen by most observers this season as ensuring Premiership safety, Michael says there will be no letting up, even if making Europe this campaign looks to be optimistic.
"We just want to carry on where we have left off," he says, "because we've been doing all right in recent weeks and got ourselves into a decent position compared to earlier in the season. Hopefully we can keep picking up points, and get into that top six or seven."
A win at the weekend would give West Ham a first double of the campaign - as indeed victory against Manchester United nearly a fortnight ago would have - and Michael says: "It would be nice to get that first double of the season on Saturday; a point at home is not going to be enough because we need to keep winning to stay in touch with a few teams ahead of us, and hopefully overtake them.
"You are right on the European places then, whereas tenth is classed by people as mid-table, half and half.
"But if you are seventh or eighth you are that bit closer to the European places, and it gives everyone a bit more self-belief going into next season.
"So even if we don't qualify it shows that the club is progressing, and moving forward, and if we can build on that next season then we would get to Europe, which would be brilliant."
Whether the match against the Tractor Boys will be anything like the eight goal thriller against Manchester United in the Hammers' last outing remains to be seen, but Michael says: "I thought we did cause them problems but really it's hard because if you make mistakes against them they are going to punish you, whereas with other teams you might get away with it.
"They just showed the quality they have got, and you just have to hold your hands up. If it was one of the lesser teams I think you would be disappointed, but as it was Man United I think you just have to say we are not the first team to lose to them.
"And now we have to build on that for this Ipswich game tomorrow."