West Ham first-team coach Mark Warburton spoke to the media on Wednesday night after the Hammers’ penalty shootout defeat to Blackburn Rovers.
The Irons thought they had booked a place in the third round of the competition when Michail Antonio scored with ten minutes to go after Pablo Fornals cancelled out Jack Vale’s opener before half-time. Ben Brereton Diaz’s goal with two minutes to go took the game to penalties, with Blackburn winning 10-9 on penalties.
Here is every word Warburton said on the defeat, manager David Moyes, Saturday’s meeting with Leciester City, an injury to Emerson and more.
READ MORE: West Ham player ratings: Pablo Fornals stars as Blackburn Rovers seal penalty shootout win
How disappointing was that performance?
It’s disappointing for the fact I think we started the game poorly. Let’s be honest, we could have been 1-0 down after two minutes. We were 1-0 down after six minutes, so we started the game in a very sloppy fashion. We then grew into the game and in the second half, we were much better. Dominated the football in the second half and I think it’s fair to say we should’ve won the game in the second half but lacked that little bit of quality in the final third. We had a chance and we didn’t capitalise upon it and as such, we conceded a goal, a poor second goal. Very similar at the weekend from a good attacking position we allowed a team to break and paid the price and end up with the lottery of penalties. It’s frustrating because we did enough in the second half to win the game and we didn’t get our rewards tonight.
What do you put it down to, as slow starts have been a recurring theme?
I wouldn’t say that. I’m talking about recent performances and how good the boys have been, but tonight, we have to put our hands up and say as a team, we started the game poorly. You’ve given a team the chance to put a ball down the line when you get three or four corners in a row and a one on one that the keeper saves and a one on one that the players. Let’s be honest and look at ourselves, we have to start better and tonight, we didn’t do that. We grew into the game and second half, there was no doubt we were the better team but we have to make sure we get the rewards. Goals change games and tonight, the fine margins didn’t go our way.
Is there big pressure on the Leicester City game after back-to-back defeats?
The international breaks are always difficult, as a manager, as a player, any staff member, you want to make sure you win that last game otherwise you stew on it for the next two weeks. Now you’ve got this unusual scenario of a much more extended break, so now the next Premier League game will be on Boxing Day. Of course, the significance there is for all to see. Yes, we had a tough weekend against Palace, there is no doubt about that, we were the second best team at the weekend and paid the price and we had to recognise that. Tonight is disappointing because so many fans turned out as well to support the team and we were at home and they deserve the team to play well and get the rewards at home. We know that every Premier League game is important, at the weekend of course it’s Leicester here. Going into the break, we need to meet the challenge, deliver the quality of performance that gets three points and excites our fans.
Is it perhaps a blessing in disguise given your run in the Europa Conference League?
I think you have seen some results tonight, let’s be honest. I was looking at some of the scores going through and some big clubs have gone out of the competition tonight. Europe makes it so difficult, it’s a bizarre situation. You work so hard all season to get into Europe and when you get into Europe, it is so hard to deal with so you are playing Thursday Sunday Thursday Sunday and how it impacts training and the demands of the squad, the depth you need in the squad, all of this. You always want to go as far as you can in the cups for the supporters, you want a cup run. It’s silverware at the end of it and it helps the playing squad, it helps the fans, it helps the manager, helps everyone. Do I want to go out of the cup? No. We’re frustrated to lose tonight, of course we are but the problems you highlight about the schedule are there for all to see.
Did you expect Alphonse Areola to make at least one save in the penalty shootout?
Yes, we see Phonse’s quality every day in training. He shows his quality day in, day out. It was one of those shootouts, I was involved in one last season. It went to 11-10 but that is what happens but unfortunately tonight it didn’t go our way.
Did Emerson come off injured?
Yes, he’s being assessed now. We’ll see how he is, he had a clash in the first half when he went down and he got through that but I think it was bothering him throughout the game. Fair play to him for the character that he showed, but I think it was precautionary more than anything else.
Do you know what the issue is?
No, I’ll let you know.
Is David Moyes also disappointed? What did he say to the players?
Yes, he is frustrated because we know we’re at home on a Wednesday night with all of the problems with travel and everything else, we’ve had a really good crowd tonight and gave the team good support. They leave the stadium disappointed, so he feels that more than anyone. His experience and his knowledge of the game, he knows the impact of that undoubtedly. The team are prepared well, we had a decent squad out tonight, good names out tonight. The frustration is unless you watched a different game, in the second half we were by far the dominant team and we should have finished off the game early and got the rewards and be in the draw for the next round of the cap. Of course he’s frustrated, but these are professionals, these are senior players. There’s no one more frustrated than them, we wanted to get through tonight. They’ve let themselves down, they’ve let the fans down, that’s the nature of how anyone feels at football clubs. Collectively, we are disappointed but Saturday gives us a chance to change that hopefully.
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