Michael: We're All Together

Michael Carrick says it is important that the players not in the side support the players that are as the season reaches a climax.

With Lee Bowyer and Paolo Di Canio returning to the squad for the upcoming game against Southampton, and barring any injuries in international week, Glenn Roeder will have even more selection options when West Ham return to Premiership action.

"The lads are playing well so unless there is a suspension or an injury the gaffer can't really change the team because we have won three and drawn one," says Michael.

"It goes without saying; whoever is not in the team will want to get into it and if the team is doing well they will be happy for the team.

"At the end of the day it breeds confidence and makes it a happier place to be.

"We want everyone behind us becasuse if anyone goes astray it spoils the team spirit.

"But, as people have seen in the last four weeks, we have stuck together and it has come good for us."

As for the reasons for the revival, Michael adds: "The work rate of the lads and the belief has stepped up a gear in the last couple of weeks.

"We are going in stronger, we have dug in a little bit more, and it has just come together thankfully at the right time."

He admits, though that he wishes West Ham had played in a similar manner earlier in the season, and adds: "It is annoying, we have been thinking that all season, but we have been doing all right recently so we will just have to settle for that."

As for the win on Saturday, he says: "It could have been more but in the position we are in you have got to settle for that. We cruised towards the end but it was a great result."

Michael played his part in the second goal when he set up Fredi Kanoute to score, and says: "It was an interception, I can't remember who from, but it was quite an easy ball in the end and Fredi just stuck it away to give us a bit of breathing space - at 2-0 you can sit a bit more comfortably."

Michael says preparation has been the key to the revival, and concludes: "That is a big thing we have worked on and in the first and second halves we have started really well in the last few weeks."