Aaron Cresswell says West Ham United must take a positive mindset into their final two Premier League matches if they are to secure European qualification for the first time in five years.
A 1-1 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, combined with results elsewhere over the weekend, saw the Irons drop out of the top six for the first time since mid-January.
However, the Hammers have their UEFA Conference League destiny and a top-seven finish in their own hands following Everton’s home defeat by Sheffield United on Sunday evening, while two wins and dropped points by either Tottenham Hotspur or Liverpool – or both – could see the east Londoners claim a top-six finish and a place in the UEFA Europa League group stage.
West Ham travel to already-relegated West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday, where Cresswell will face the man who signed him for West Ham in 2014, Sam Allardyce, and The Hawthorns will welcome up to 7,500 fans back to cheer the Baggies on.
The Hammers then finish the campaign at home to Southampton in front of up to 10,000 supporters at London Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
If you'd have asked me this time last year if we'd have been fighting for Europe I'd have said it would be tough, but we're here with two games to go
Aaron Cresswell
“We've got two big games now and we want to take the maximum," said the No3. "The aim is to keep the West Brom fans quiet, but we know it's going to be tough, regardless of whether they've been relegated or not.
"We've got to there with the right attitude now and stay positive until Wednesday night and that's what we're looking to do."
West Ham's results may have dipped slightly in recent weeks, but performances have remained good, and Cresswell is relishing the opportunity that awaits the east Londoners if they can finish strongly.
"We can't afford to lick our wounds," Cresswell insisted. "We've got to take the positives from Saturday night Brighton, where we took a point on the road. Obviously we wanted the three, but it wasn't to be.
"We've got two massive games and we want to finish strong.
"If you'd have asked me this time last year if we'd have been fighting for Europe I'd have said it would be tough, but we're here with two games to go. Let's stay positive and try and get the six points out of those two games."
