West Ham midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate believes that his team can still grab a European place this season, but need to control the end of games in order to make that possible.
The Hammers squandered a two-goal lead against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday to finish the match 2-2, thus dropping two points.
And as Sam Allardyce's team hope to have a dream of a season this time around, having started off so well, the 25-year-old feels that it is time that his side stop giving away points and become more solid in defence.
The Senegalese doesn't want to waste the possibility of playing in European competition by playing casually and surrendering points.
"While it remains mathematically possible, we're going to fight right until the end to try to grab hold of a European place for next season", Kouyate said in an interview with his club's official site.
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"For that to happen we have to try to control the end of games, not like Sunday."
The former Anderlecht player is not all disappointed about the weekend's result as he feels that his team did well to go to White Hart Lane and almost snatch all three points.
"It was still a good performance from the whole team."
For now the focus will be on their next home match against Crystal Palace on Saturday as the Hammers look to put behind them the disappointment of the Tottenham match and get back to winninng ways.
"Though we were disgusted by the result last Sunday, but it's done now and we've got prepare ourselves for the game against Crystal Palace
"This time try to take all three points."
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