GEORGE McCartney admitted that West Ham were lucky to get away with a 4-0 thumping against Chelsea on Saturday.
The Northern Ireland international believes his side were handed a big favour when ex-Hammer Frank Lampard was dismissed in the 36th minute for a seemingly innocuous push on Luis Boa Morte.
The Blues were already 3-0 up at that point thanks to three clinical finishes and were threatening to run riot.
In the end, they were content to sit tight before adding a fourth from Ashley Cole midway through the second half.
McCartney said: "It's the first time we've been beaten 4-0 this season and if they'd kept 11 men on the field it could have been a lot tougher.
"Obviously Chelsea would have been really up for it after the Carling Cup final defeat and our whole team has had an off-day.
"They're probably the best team we've played this year."
The warning signs were there for Hammers from as early as the first minute when Nicolas Anelka slotted home only to be dragged back for offside.
And they were not so fortunate in the 17th minute when Lampard opened the scoring from the penalty spot - after Anton Ferdinand had hauled down Solomon Kalou - before goals from Joe Cole and Michael Ballack wrapped up the win by the 22nd minute.
"That's why Chelsea are top of the league - they're clinical in front of goal," conceded McCartney.
"They've probably only had five chances all game and they've scored from four of them.
"That's the most important thing because goals win you games.
"We had plenty of the ball but we didn't really make good use of it. We found it difficult to break them down."
The full back now just wants the team to forget about the result and move on to Liverpool tomorrow night.
A win would move the Hammers to within two points of seventh-place Blackburn - and back into UEFA Cup contention - although McCartney knows how difficult it's going to be for his side.
"It's not going to be easy at Anfield," he said.
"They're under a bit of pressure themselves and will be looking to take the three points.
"It's been a long season and we've got 11 or 12 games left and we've got to try and take as many points as we can if we're going to get into Europe."
McCartney has featured in every league and cup game for the Irons this season, but the 26-year-old has no desire to miss out on the remaining ten games.
"I think with the cup competitions and touching nearly 30 league games now it does start to catch up on you - but it's the same for everyone," he said.
"We've got a big enough squad to cope with that, so it's just a matter of everyone digging in and seeing the season out."
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