Mark Noble said Swansea City took their opportunities to score a 4-1 Barclays Premier League win at the Boleyn Ground
Captain Mark Noble was magnanimous in defeat as West Ham United were humbled 4-1 by Swansea City in the penultimate Barclays Premier League match at the Boleyn Ground.
The Hammers’ UEFA Champions League challenge may have disappeared down the sinkhole that opened up on the Barking Road hours before kick-off, as a combination of missed chances and clinical finishing from the visitors submerged the Hammers.
After a bright opening, Swansea struck twice before the break through Wayne Routledge and Andre Ayew. West Ham fell further behind when Ki netted superbly just after the interval, before a switch to 3-5-2 and an own-goal from Swans left-back Stephen Kingsley gave the hosts hope.
However, a late counter-attack saw Bafetimbi Gomis net a fourth to send the Swans back to South Wales with plenty of air under their wings.
Noble admitted the home side had been second best, but was quick to put things in perspective, pointing to the fact his team had unleashed 25 shots on goal and won 13 corners to Swansea’s 13 and three respectively.
“They took their chances and we didn’t – it’s as simple as that,” he correctly observed. “We started really well, moved it well, had three or four corners and some good chances, but couldn’t hit the back of the net and got caught on the counter.
“I’m not going to dwell on it because we’ve been fantastic this year. We’ve had two or three games this whole season like that. We’re still fighting and we’re still in a fantastic position, so let’s not forget where we’ve come from. We’ve improved massively this year.
“I’m not going to stand here and say we were rubbish, we were this, we were that. We just didn’t finish our chances, we weren’t at the races and sometimes that can happen to any team, and we’ve seen it happen to all teams.
“It hasn’t happened to us a lot this year, which is why it’s strange, but we deserved to lose.”
The Hammers’ UEFA Champions League challenge may have disappeared down the sinkhole that opened up on the Barking Road hours before kick-off, as a combination of missed chances and clinical finishing from the visitors submerged the Hammers.
After a bright opening, Swansea struck twice before the break through Wayne Routledge and Andre Ayew. West Ham fell further behind when Ki netted superbly just after the interval, before a switch to 3-5-2 and an own-goal from Swans left-back Stephen Kingsley gave the hosts hope.
However, a late counter-attack saw Bafetimbi Gomis net a fourth to send the Swans back to South Wales with plenty of air under their wings.
Noble admitted the home side had been second best, but was quick to put things in perspective, pointing to the fact his team had unleashed 25 shots on goal and won 13 corners to Swansea’s 13 and three respectively.
“They took their chances and we didn’t – it’s as simple as that,” he correctly observed. “We started really well, moved it well, had three or four corners and some good chances, but couldn’t hit the back of the net and got caught on the counter.
“I’m not going to dwell on it because we’ve been fantastic this year. We’ve had two or three games this whole season like that. We’re still fighting and we’re still in a fantastic position, so let’s not forget where we’ve come from. We’ve improved massively this year.
“I’m not going to stand here and say we were rubbish, we were this, we were that. We just didn’t finish our chances, we weren’t at the races and sometimes that can happen to any team, and we’ve seen it happen to all teams.
“It hasn’t happened to us a lot this year, which is why it’s strange, but we deserved to lose.”
They took their chances and we didn’t – it’s as simple as that
West Ham did indeed create chance after chance, but it was Swansea who took their opportunities, scoring four goals from six shots on target.
“That’s sometimes how it goes,” Noble continued. “We’ve done it ourselves where we haven’t really been in games and we’ve scored goals.
“Look, there are going to be people out there who want to put the boys down and use social media to vent their frustration, but at the end of the day the way we’ve played this year from where we’ve come from has been fantastic. Let’s not get too disappointed because we’ve got two big games to go and we obviously need to do better there.
“All I’d say is that we know it’s a bad result. I’ve played in every game this year and we’ve done fantastic and we need to get back to winning ways on Tuesday.”
Noble wants everyone in Claret and Blue to put Saturday’s defeat behind them quickly before refocusing attention on Tuesday’s Final Game with Manchester United.
The No16 knows the Hammers will need to take their chances to end life at the Boleyn Ground on a high – and is confident Slaven Bilic’s side can do just that.
“We’re itching to get back out there and put things right, of course we are,” he concluded. “It’s the last game ever at this place and it’s going to be special.
“I’d say we need to play better, but we just need to finish our chances, because we didn’t and they finished their chances fantastically and that’s why we got stung. It was quite similar to the Bournemouth game ten months ago when we couldn’t finish and they finished four of their chances.
“It’s frustrating but we still need to keep our heads up and look forward to Tuesday.”
“That’s sometimes how it goes,” Noble continued. “We’ve done it ourselves where we haven’t really been in games and we’ve scored goals.
“Look, there are going to be people out there who want to put the boys down and use social media to vent their frustration, but at the end of the day the way we’ve played this year from where we’ve come from has been fantastic. Let’s not get too disappointed because we’ve got two big games to go and we obviously need to do better there.
“All I’d say is that we know it’s a bad result. I’ve played in every game this year and we’ve done fantastic and we need to get back to winning ways on Tuesday.”
Noble wants everyone in Claret and Blue to put Saturday’s defeat behind them quickly before refocusing attention on Tuesday’s Final Game with Manchester United.
The No16 knows the Hammers will need to take their chances to end life at the Boleyn Ground on a high – and is confident Slaven Bilic’s side can do just that.
“We’re itching to get back out there and put things right, of course we are,” he concluded. “It’s the last game ever at this place and it’s going to be special.
“I’d say we need to play better, but we just need to finish our chances, because we didn’t and they finished their chances fantastically and that’s why we got stung. It was quite similar to the Bournemouth game ten months ago when we couldn’t finish and they finished four of their chances.
“It’s frustrating but we still need to keep our heads up and look forward to Tuesday.”