He feels that the midweek Millwall defeat by Watford, which handed the initiative back to the Hammers, was a stroke of luck which the players must appreciate.
"A few results have gone for us and for all the chances we have thrown away we have put ourselves back in it," he says.
"I was there at the game and, as anyone who was there would have told you, Millwall were comfortable in the first half and could probably have been more up - maybe four or five.
"In the second half it changed completely; Watford came out of the blocks in the second half and got at Millwall.
"They got their just rewards but I just couldn't see Watford scoring in the first half.
"Credit too them, though, and the result was a bonus for us.
"We have had a lot of chances but thrown them back in our own faces.
"It has been handed to us again and we are thankful it is in our control once more.
"That is all you can ask for in football; people talk about games in hand but I would rather have the points in the bag.
"Considering we have not played as well as we can for weeks upon weeks to still be in the position we are in...it galls you in one respect because if we had put any sort of run together in that period we could have been challenging for the first two places, which was obviously the goal.
"But on the other hand it gives us another chance again and we have got to grasp it - because it is not going to be there very long with everyone fighting for their lives.
"We must understand that people won't keep giving you chances because sooner or later you are going to run out of time."
Peter emphasises the importance of the last three games by likening them to one off opportunities and explains:
"It is the playoffs before the playoffs, really; we have three games left, one at home and one away, which you would get in the playoffs, and then the Wigan game which you could liken to the one at the Millennium stadium.
"It could set us in good stead or it could blow us to bits - but Wigan will only be like the final if we win the next two games.
"If we lose the two games prior to it, it will be a waste of time and we will be going there for pride more than anything else.
"We want to be going there to take us into the playoffs, and if we win the three games we are there.
"But sooner or later someone has to grab the nettle."