Slaven Bilic was delighted with his team's performance in Saturday's 0-0 draw with Manchester United
West Ham United boss Slaven Bilic was full of praise for his team after they earned a 0-0 draw at Manchester United on Saturday.
The Hammers gave as good as they got at Old Trafford and could well have taken all three points after hitting the woodwork twice through Mauro Zarate and Winston Reid.
The fine margins were not with the Hammers in an attacking sense, but Bilic was thrilled with the way his team were set up overall, limiting the hosts to a single shot on target, despite second half pressure.
He explained: "I can only praise the team because first of all the way we defended and the way we were closing them down, and the way we were good with the ball.
"The amount of chances we created here against a team who have conceded only one goal at home this season, especially when you add on top of that we were without four major players, puts me in a situation that I want and I have to praise the players for the team performance,
"It gives us belief that we've come here and created those chances without those players, definitely, but still we didn't score a goal.
"What I'm saying is that this pattern is good for us because this is the only way that we can replace those players that we are missing and unfortunately we are going to miss for a few more games."
The Hammers gave as good as they got at Old Trafford and could well have taken all three points after hitting the woodwork twice through Mauro Zarate and Winston Reid.
The fine margins were not with the Hammers in an attacking sense, but Bilic was thrilled with the way his team were set up overall, limiting the hosts to a single shot on target, despite second half pressure.
He explained: "I can only praise the team because first of all the way we defended and the way we were closing them down, and the way we were good with the ball.
"The amount of chances we created here against a team who have conceded only one goal at home this season, especially when you add on top of that we were without four major players, puts me in a situation that I want and I have to praise the players for the team performance,
"It gives us belief that we've come here and created those chances without those players, definitely, but still we didn't score a goal.
"What I'm saying is that this pattern is good for us because this is the only way that we can replace those players that we are missing and unfortunately we are going to miss for a few more games."
I can only praise the team because first of all the way we defended and the way we were closing them down, and the way we were good with the ball
The Hammers kept a first clean sheet in ten league matches and Bilic said that was a huge positive ahead of a busy December.
He added: "To be fair Manchester United had their chances. They weren't on target because we made a few really great blocks in front of the goal.
"It is Manchester United and you can't expect from them not to have a chance. We limited them to a minimum of chances and that's why we're very pleased with this result.
"This is a good pattern now for us, before this busy period. We have a lot of games, and when the players come back, we have to be like we were today - defending as a team."
The one negative was the first half injury to Victor Moses, which forced him off the field early.
Bilic said: "It's still too early, but it doesn't look good again. It's a hamstring - he felt it and we had to takw him off.
"It's a big blow for us, but we have to stay positive as some of the players maybe have a chance of being back for the Stoke game. If not Stoke, then Swansea."
He added: "To be fair Manchester United had their chances. They weren't on target because we made a few really great blocks in front of the goal.
"It is Manchester United and you can't expect from them not to have a chance. We limited them to a minimum of chances and that's why we're very pleased with this result.
"This is a good pattern now for us, before this busy period. We have a lot of games, and when the players come back, we have to be like we were today - defending as a team."
The one negative was the first half injury to Victor Moses, which forced him off the field early.
Bilic said: "It's still too early, but it doesn't look good again. It's a hamstring - he felt it and we had to takw him off.
"It's a big blow for us, but we have to stay positive as some of the players maybe have a chance of being back for the Stoke game. If not Stoke, then Swansea."