It was a case of mixed emotions for centre-half Angelo Ogbonna on Sunday, whose delight with a first Barclays Premier League start since September was tempered by West Bromwich Albion's second-half leveller.
Ogbonna has had to bide his time since suffering a hamstring injury against Newcastle United at the Boleyn Ground, but looked as assured as ever alongside Winston Reid at the heart of the back four.
Here, the Italian reflects on what might have been against the Baggies and insists Saturday's trip to Old Trafford should hold no fear for the Hammers.
Angelo, good to be back in the starting line-up today...
“I'm very happy for that, it was a really good game. From the start, we were good in possession, we looked forward. It's an unlucky point in the end because we wanted to win.”
In the first half, you played some really good football...
“Maybe we had to close the match in the first half, score more goals. Maybe it's an excuse. The second half was really good too, but unlucky for the result.
“We have to look forward to the next game, a big game at Old Trafford. We need all the support, not just of the team, but of our fans. We have another chance to do better.”
You've been on the bench for a few weeks now, even though you are fit. You must have been really pleased to get back into the team...
“I waited for my chance and the chance has come, and I have to take my position, take my opportunity and I have to take it for the team.”
Ogbonna has had to bide his time since suffering a hamstring injury against Newcastle United at the Boleyn Ground, but looked as assured as ever alongside Winston Reid at the heart of the back four.
Here, the Italian reflects on what might have been against the Baggies and insists Saturday's trip to Old Trafford should hold no fear for the Hammers.
Angelo, good to be back in the starting line-up today...
“I'm very happy for that, it was a really good game. From the start, we were good in possession, we looked forward. It's an unlucky point in the end because we wanted to win.”
In the first half, you played some really good football...
“Maybe we had to close the match in the first half, score more goals. Maybe it's an excuse. The second half was really good too, but unlucky for the result.
“We have to look forward to the next game, a big game at Old Trafford. We need all the support, not just of the team, but of our fans. We have another chance to do better.”
You've been on the bench for a few weeks now, even though you are fit. You must have been really pleased to get back into the team...
“I waited for my chance and the chance has come, and I have to take my position, take my opportunity and I have to take it for the team.”
Were you happy with the way you played on Sunday?
“Yes, I'm happy, not just with my performance, but everybody, everybody played really, really good game. Really good shape, so I'm just disappointed for the result. But this is football.”
Manchester United next week, a chance to play at Old Trafford. Your first time at Old Trafford?
“I don't want to talk too much about the next game. We firstly have to prepare, we have to relax and forget about Sunday.”
You've already won at Arsenal, at Manchester City and at Liverpool, so you can go there without any fears?
“Any fear? No, we’re not afraid, because this is our job. This is our passion, so we have to prepare everything without being afraid.”
Another injury, after Dimitri and now we have Diafra as well. So disappointing and frustrating, isn't it?
“This is football. We are really disappointed we are without a good player, but it's a chance for another player.”
West Ham had a couple of opportunities towards the end, Victor Moses and then Diafra. Did you think he'd scored? Certainly a lot of the fans did...
“If Diafra hadn't got injured then maybe he'd have scored! We didn't have a couple of opportunities, we had a lot of opportunities to score, Victor Moses, Andy Carroll, Cheikhou, Diafra. We have to move on now.”