Mauro Zarate was disappointed his goal did not lead to three points against West Brom
Mauro Zarate's superb free kick against West Bromwich Albion would normally be a source of great joy for the Argentine - but he admitted most of the gloss was taken off by his team's failure to claim all three points.
Zarate's goal capped a fine first half from the Hammers, which saw them lead 1-0 against West Brom, only for a deflected Rickie Lambert strike to ensure the points would be shared.
The No10 now has five goals for the campaign, but would have preferred the victory.
"We didn't feel so good with the result," he said. "We worked for the three points, and thought all week about taking them - doing the pressing, doing a good job, but it wasn't enough today.
"We had to be 2-0 up after the first half. We were dangerous, with Manu, Sakho and me we had many options.
"But in the second half they scored so quickly and that killed us."
Zarate's free-kick was real postage stamp stuff, right in the top corner and out of goalkeeper Boaz Myhill's grasp, and he revealed that it was a case of practice makes perfect.
He added: "I practice the free-kicks every day, in every training session with Rapha [Spiegel] or Adrian. It's a good way to score and to give a goal for the team.
"That one in the first half went in the top corner, and I had another after half time but I couldn't put it in the same place.
Zarate's goal capped a fine first half from the Hammers, which saw them lead 1-0 against West Brom, only for a deflected Rickie Lambert strike to ensure the points would be shared.
The No10 now has five goals for the campaign, but would have preferred the victory.
"We didn't feel so good with the result," he said. "We worked for the three points, and thought all week about taking them - doing the pressing, doing a good job, but it wasn't enough today.
"We had to be 2-0 up after the first half. We were dangerous, with Manu, Sakho and me we had many options.
"But in the second half they scored so quickly and that killed us."
Zarate's free-kick was real postage stamp stuff, right in the top corner and out of goalkeeper Boaz Myhill's grasp, and he revealed that it was a case of practice makes perfect.
He added: "I practice the free-kicks every day, in every training session with Rapha [Spiegel] or Adrian. It's a good way to score and to give a goal for the team.
"That one in the first half went in the top corner, and I had another after half time but I couldn't put it in the same place.