 The 2002 – 03 season was one to forget for Carrick , as West Ham were relegated from the Premier League at the end of the campaign , with Carrick playing his last game of the season in a 2 – 0 victory over Sunderland on 22 March 2003 . Rather than leave the club like team @-@ mates Joe Cole , Frédéric <unk> and Jermain Defoe , Carrick stayed with West Ham during their first season back in First Division . During the 2003 – 04 season , West Ham finished fourth on the final day to ensure a place in the play @-@ offs . However , they lost 1 – 0 in the final to Crystal Palace and were denied a return to the top flight . Carrick was included in the PFA First Division Team of the Year for the season . 
