Captain Lucas Neill insists it is "imperative" West Ham get a result from Sunday's trip to Manchester City to keep their season alive.
The Hammers return to Eastlands just four days after being knocked out of the FA Cup by Sven-Goran Eriksson's side and are determined to bury their disappointment and push for European qualification.
West Ham are seven points off sixth place with a game in hand - albeit against Liverpool - and boast the best defensive in the Barclays Premier League outside the top four.
Manager Alan Curbishley believes that is the ideal foundation to launch an assault on European qualification - and Neill last night sounded the battle cry.
He said: "We were bitterly disappointed to be knocked out of the FA Cup by a team unbeaten at home in the league. It is imperative we do not lose this weekend.
"A win will see us close the gap on fourth place and keep tabs on the group of teams just ahead of us and of course keep us in the hunt for a European spot.
"We go into the game with a lot of confidence from the FA Cup performance and an attitude that seeks revenge."
West Ham were let down in midweek by their lack of creative attacking options, with Craig Bellamy, Bobby Zamora, Scott Parker, Nolberto Solano and Kieron Dyer all sidelined.
Nevertheless, the Hammers engineered a handful of decent chances but could not convert - and then paid the price when Elano stooped to head in the winner.
"It was a harsh lesson and it shows the need for us to score when we have dominant periods in a game," Lucas added on www.whufc.com.
"We need to get that ruthless streak in us."
As Curbishley awaits the return of Bellamy and company he has hammered home that same message as he targets the UEFA Cup.
"What I have said to the side, certainty the offensive players, is 'give us something a bit more, let's take our chances and be more clinical'," said Curbishley.
"We can all see where we can get to. We feel we have given ourselves a base, a bit of a chance to push on. We are looking to get into that top six or seven.
"If we can get a result at Manchester City we can see them as well. I am looking at the fixtures thinking 'let's attack the run-in'.
"We have to be looking upwards not downwards."
Source : www.sportinglife.com
