Niclas Füllkrug was not happy after West Ham United relinquished a lead to draw 1-1 at home with Southampton on Saturday.
The Irons shrugged off an indifferent first-half performance to go ahead within two minutes of the restart, as the Germany international released Jarrod Bowen to score from just inside the penalty area.
The Hammers then looked for a period like putting the game to bed, but tested Saints goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale only once through substitute Luis Guilherme’s shot.
Then, as the game entered its final 15 minutes, West Ham dropped deep into their own half to defend their slender advantage and were punished when Lesley Ugochukwu equalised in the third minute of added-time.
For a player used to challenging for titles and trophies, the situation late in the match was a source of great frustration, as he explained in his post-match interview.
“I’m very angry today, not disappointed, just angry on what we did after the goal,” Füllkrug said, with stark honesty. “I'm very, very angry that we played like this because we had some minutes where we showed what we can do against an opponent like that at home.
“I think there were 25 to 30 minutes in the second half which were very good and we showed that we can have very good possessions, that we can go in behind [Southampton’s defence], and that we could have the chances to score again.
“It's not the first time that we scored a goal and... we don't try to play [possession] football anymore, we don't push up anymore, we just sink and that's not the way we want to play.
“When we can play 65 minutes before with possession, even if it's not perfect, we tried to play with possession, we tried to create chances, we tried to score and then we scored a goal and after that, [the way we played] that's not the way it works.
“We have to find a way to have a togetherness, to have the idea of where we want to go, what we want to do, and the coach is very clear in what he wants but we have to do it all, [and] everyone has to do it. It’s just my feelings today.”
For Füllkrug, his frustration was tempered slightly by returning to the starting XI for the first time since early January, providing the assist for Bowen’s goal and leading the line with his customary commitment, physicality and neat link-up play.
“I felt good, I felt fit, I felt strong,” he confirmed. “I had also some good moments today, sadly not a real chance to score but I assisted the goal and had some other good situations.
“It was a good start to get back in the team but the first half was difficult because we didn't find a way really to cross or to score so it was difficult for me to get in positions, and the second half was much better because we had a better positioning from everyone and then I could help the team better attacking-wise.”
