David Moyes has vowed to do everything in his power to lead West Ham United to Premier League safety after seeing his side lose 3-0 to Burnley at London Stadium.
The Hammers were the better side in the first half, but failed to take their chances and were punished when one goal from Ashley Barnes and two from substitute Chris Wood condemned them to a first home defeat of 2018.
A third consecutive loss dropped West Ham nearer to the bottom three, but the experienced Moyes is adamant that he and his staff will leave no stone unturned in their quest to keep the Club in the top flight.
I’ve told the players we are all going to stick together, we’re going to stick our chests out and go again and we’re going to get back to winning ways
David Moyes
“What we need the Club to do now, the supporters and the players, is pull together,” said Moyes. “When I took over we were in the bottom three and we’re not in the bottom three.
“Can we make improvements? Can we play better? Can we do things much better? Of course we can, because none of us are daft. To do it would really help everybody to pull in the right direction. We’ve got eight games to do so and I think we’re more than capable of doing it, but now we’re going to have to prove it.
“I’ve told the players we are all going to stick together, we’re going to stick our chests out and go again and we’re going to get back to winning ways, and we need to do it quickly. We need to play better for longer periods in the game and we’re certainly going to have to defend better. I think we’ve got attacking players who can score, but they didn’t score today.
“So, we’ll get back at it and do the job. When I came in, I didn’t think it was going to be easy, and in the main the players have been really good, but we weren’t good enough to day. But I do believe we are good enough to stay up.
“We massively have to stick together. If anything now, I’d say to the supporters, I’ll do everything I can for the players, I’ll get them the best I can get them, the best mental condition, the best nick, and if we’re not good enough that’s something else. I want the supporters to feel that as well.”
Focusing on the game itself, Marko Arnautovic and Manuel Lanzini both saw goal-bound shots saved by the feet of Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope, while Lanzini and Joao Mario each fired over the crossbar when well-placed.
When similar opportunities fell to Barnes and Wood in the final 25 minutes, the Clarets forwards ruthlessly took them.
“I thought we played well in the first half, had two great chances and probably should have been in front at half-time. The first goal was always going to crucial today, whoever got it.
“Burnley started the second half a bit better and, when we were put under pressure, that was when we had to cope with the one or two chances they came up with.
“Overall, we should have been in front with the chances we had in the first half, and we had played well. We didn’t take our chances when we got them, particularly in the first half.”
We now have eight games to go and it doesn’t change. We’re not in the bottom three, we’re out of it, and we’re going to try and win as many games as we can
David Moyes
Moyes will use a change of environment in an attempt to freshen up his squad physically and mentally.
Without a Premier League fixture until Saturday 31 March, when Southampton are the visitors, the Hammers will head to a warm-weather training camp this week.
“We’ve got a three-week break and it’s what we’ve got. We can’t do anything about it, so we’ll get the players prepared and ready to go.
“The players have had a really long time without going away, so I’m taking them away. On the back of this, would I like to? No, but am I going to? Yes, because I believe it’s the right thing for the players.
“We now have eight games to go and it doesn’t change. We’re not in the bottom three, we’re out of it, and we’re going to try and win as many games as we can.”