The South Africa striker confessed there was a dejected Hammers dressing room after Monday's 3-0 battering by Liverpool at Anfield which saw Zola's team remain three points above the drop zone. Zola, though, would have been thrilled to have seen Hull City squander their chance to join the Hammers on 31 points after they suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Aston Villa on Wednesday in the Tigers' game in hand. And McCarthy has urged his team-mates to compound Hull's midweek woes by taking the spoils against the Latics at Upton Park on Saturday, insisting the starting XI should play like their life depends on it. "'We have three games left that we can win - Wigan is like a life and death situation," he told the club's official website. "Then we go to Fulham, who have the Europa League to worry about, then we have Manchester City on the final day. Hopefully we won't leave it until then, though." Talking about West Ham's defeat at Anfield, he added: 'It's just about concentration, really. "Everything has been bad luck. We started off well and then conceded very unfortunately, and then nothing seemed to go for us. "Anything hits them anywhere and it goes in. They say you create your own luck, but there was not a lot of luck for us." McCarthy also praised the 1,500 travelling supporters that were in superb voice at Anfield despite the performance of their team and hopes West Ham can reward their avid fans. "They are the motivation factor," admitted the South African forward. "That is what you come and play football for. The fans are there for you and you have to give it your all for them. When they have been brilliant, like they have been, it gives us that extra bit to win those games."
