Sam Allardyce claimed Chelsea's Boleyn Ground winner should have been disallowed
The reaction of the West Ham United supporters at the final whistle of Wednesday’s 1-0 home Barclays Premier League defeat said it all.
The home fans applauded the Hammers off after a determined, all-action display, but jeered the match officials in the belief that Eden Hazard’s goal was wrongly allowed to stand.
Manager Sam Allardyce agreed with the crowd’s sentiments, pointing to images that appeared to show Hazard in an offside position as he moved to head in Ramires’ cross.
“Their reaction was about right, apart from the fact they should have gone home a lot happier than they are!” said the manager. “Yes, they love seeing a performance, but we all love positive results.
“Everybody who came to the game beforehand would have expected a performance and accepted a draw as a great result, and in many parts of the game we did enough and created enough to win the game if we had been as deadly as we normally are.
“I know at one end we’re letting goals in and we’ve got to stop that, but this goal was offside so that’s gone against us, which is disappointing.”
The home fans applauded the Hammers off after a determined, all-action display, but jeered the match officials in the belief that Eden Hazard’s goal was wrongly allowed to stand.
Manager Sam Allardyce agreed with the crowd’s sentiments, pointing to images that appeared to show Hazard in an offside position as he moved to head in Ramires’ cross.
“Their reaction was about right, apart from the fact they should have gone home a lot happier than they are!” said the manager. “Yes, they love seeing a performance, but we all love positive results.
“Everybody who came to the game beforehand would have expected a performance and accepted a draw as a great result, and in many parts of the game we did enough and created enough to win the game if we had been as deadly as we normally are.
“I know at one end we’re letting goals in and we’ve got to stop that, but this goal was offside so that’s gone against us, which is disappointing.”
I know at one end we’re letting goals in and we’ve got to stop that, but this goal was offside so that’s gone against us, which is disappointing
The boss said that now, after a run of one victory in eleven league matches and a host of frustrating near misses, the challenge for him is to keep his players believing that they can win football matches.
“It was a great performance and I said to the players that, if they believe they can play like that consistently until the end of the season, then victories are going to come our way,” he continued.
“The thing is, it is important we try to get the victory as soon as possible, because it ebbs away at the confidence in the end. The players begin to worry if it’s going to happen, rather than it happening naturally. We’re playing well but they’re asking why?
“Us not scoring at home is very unusual for us, right when we needed a goal. The amount of chances we created against a team that is top of the Premier League and rarely gives chances away like we created was fantastic.
“But for some poor finishing, good goalkeeping and some poor officiating on their offside goal, then maybe on another day we might have got a penalty for the Gary Cahill handball [from Nene’s late shot], we would have got something.
“We have just got to keep believing in ourselves and keep repeating performances like we did against Chelsea.”
“It was a great performance and I said to the players that, if they believe they can play like that consistently until the end of the season, then victories are going to come our way,” he continued.
“The thing is, it is important we try to get the victory as soon as possible, because it ebbs away at the confidence in the end. The players begin to worry if it’s going to happen, rather than it happening naturally. We’re playing well but they’re asking why?
“Us not scoring at home is very unusual for us, right when we needed a goal. The amount of chances we created against a team that is top of the Premier League and rarely gives chances away like we created was fantastic.
“But for some poor finishing, good goalkeeping and some poor officiating on their offside goal, then maybe on another day we might have got a penalty for the Gary Cahill handball [from Nene’s late shot], we would have got something.
“We have just got to keep believing in ourselves and keep repeating performances like we did against Chelsea.”
Big Sam also pointed to the loss of Winston Reid to an early hamstring injury and the absences of Andy Carroll and Carlton Cole through injury and Morgan Amalfitano through suspension.
“We’re short of numbers because Winston has now got injured and there are no alternatives there or up front – maybe bringing an Andy or Carlton on would have brought the goal, because while we were playing so well we couldn’t break through.
“Everybody who started playing the best they could play, but a change might have seen us play a different way and Andy might have gone up against them and broken through. That’s why we want the players fit and to have options available.
“It’s a disappointment but I have to give the lads a lot of credit for how they have performed.”
Finally, the manager had words of praise for captain Kevin Nolan, who led from the front with an outstanding display in central midfield.
“Kevin and the rest of the team, as team, played exceptionally well against one of the most expensively assembled teams in the country,” he added.
“Sadly we have got no points when we really did deserve some. We got the moral victory, maybe, but when I wake up tomorrow morning we still lost. I’m very proud of the players.”
“We’re short of numbers because Winston has now got injured and there are no alternatives there or up front – maybe bringing an Andy or Carlton on would have brought the goal, because while we were playing so well we couldn’t break through.
“Everybody who started playing the best they could play, but a change might have seen us play a different way and Andy might have gone up against them and broken through. That’s why we want the players fit and to have options available.
“It’s a disappointment but I have to give the lads a lot of credit for how they have performed.”
Finally, the manager had words of praise for captain Kevin Nolan, who led from the front with an outstanding display in central midfield.
“Kevin and the rest of the team, as team, played exceptionally well against one of the most expensively assembled teams in the country,” he added.
“Sadly we have got no points when we really did deserve some. We got the moral victory, maybe, but when I wake up tomorrow morning we still lost. I’m very proud of the players.”