Slaven Bilic said his team showed immense character to win at Bournemouth
Slaven Bilic was full of praise for his West Ham United team after they came from behind to secure a 3-1 victory at AFC Bournemouth on Tuesday.
The Hammers stretched their unbeaten Barclays Premier League run to eight games, secured a third straight win and moved up to fifth in the process – much to the delight of the boss.
He was pleased with the way they turned the game on its head after a difficult first half and ended up winning in style.
He said: “It was a fantastic second half performance and I want to congratulate the guys because they came back after being 1-0 down and that’s very difficult.
“To be fair we started the game really well and were on the front foot, but unfortunately Andy got injured. Then they scored the goal which shocked us a bit and gave them confidence.
“We were getting rid of the ball too early, but then in the last seven or eight minutes of the first half we showed that when we passed with bravery we could harm them.
“Before half time we changed the shape of the team a little, and we were really good in the second half, scored three wonderful goals and basically dominated. We deserved it big time."
The Hammers stretched their unbeaten Barclays Premier League run to eight games, secured a third straight win and moved up to fifth in the process – much to the delight of the boss.
He was pleased with the way they turned the game on its head after a difficult first half and ended up winning in style.
He said: “It was a fantastic second half performance and I want to congratulate the guys because they came back after being 1-0 down and that’s very difficult.
“To be fair we started the game really well and were on the front foot, but unfortunately Andy got injured. Then they scored the goal which shocked us a bit and gave them confidence.
“We were getting rid of the ball too early, but then in the last seven or eight minutes of the first half we showed that when we passed with bravery we could harm them.
“Before half time we changed the shape of the team a little, and we were really good in the second half, scored three wonderful goals and basically dominated. We deserved it big time."
The leveller came from Dimitri Payet, back in the starting line-up for the first time since his injury lay-off, and his virtuoso display was one which drew plenty of plaudits.
He was heavily involved in the second goal for Enner Valencia too, and the boss was thrilled for the pair of them.
He added: “You need the goal, because it is not easy to score, and the danger is always that Bournemouth will get a second one.
“After the goal we continued, we even put it one gear up and Dimi did a magical move to set up the second.
“The third one was basically a magnificent one again from Enner and it’s very important for him to score two goals after a long absence.
“We ended the game like the dominant side and that’s important for us, because it was a tough away game after being 1-0 down and we won with style."
He was heavily involved in the second goal for Enner Valencia too, and the boss was thrilled for the pair of them.
He added: “You need the goal, because it is not easy to score, and the danger is always that Bournemouth will get a second one.
“After the goal we continued, we even put it one gear up and Dimi did a magical move to set up the second.
“The third one was basically a magnificent one again from Enner and it’s very important for him to score two goals after a long absence.
“We ended the game like the dominant side and that’s important for us, because it was a tough away game after being 1-0 down and we won with style."