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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Nizaar Kinsella

Michail Antonio sets West Ham target to ensure safety as ‘buzzing’ Hammers eye sprint finish

Michail Antonio believes West Ham need just one more win to end the threat of relegation and that they can have an “unbelievable” last month.

The 33-year-old striker scored the opener in Sunday’s 4-0 win at Bournemouth. The Hammers are now up to 13th, six points above the relegation zone and with a game in hand over all their rivals.

With a Europa Conference League semi-final to come over two legs against AZ Alkmaar, Antonio is beginning to dream of a glorious end to the season.

After back-to-back away wins for the first time this season, he said: “This has settled the boys. Today, it draws us away from the pack, giving us a cushion away from those in the relegation zone.

“It’s a good turnaround and we must keep the momentum going, as we are trying to win the [Conference League] cup now. It has clicked, and since the start of the year, our performances have become more all-round. We hadn’t been the best before that.

“This last month of the season, with the semi-final, can become unbelievable, I feel another win secures Premier League for next year. We’re buzzing.”

Antonio opened the scoring with a header from a corner after just five minutes, with other goals coming from Lucas Paqueta, Declan Rice and Pablo Fornals.

After netting in consecutive matches, Rice said: “I’m scoring again, two in a row. A few games to go and, hopefully, I can keep notching.”

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