West Ham goalkeeper Joe Hart lamented his side’s failure to defeat Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Speaking after the match, as quoted by talkSPORT, the England international was in a reflective mood, and expressed his disappointment at West Ham’s late capitulation.
I can’t believe we’ve done that. I can’t believe we’ve fought all the way to the end and then been so unprofessional at the end. It’s a little bit speechless in the dressing room. No one does things on purpose in this team, but it’s two points dropped – as simple as that.
The Hammers headed into the break two goals to the good, with Javier Hernandez and Andre Ayew helping them to a 2-0 lead at Selhurst Park.
However, a spirited fightback from Crystal Palace saw them pull the game back to 2-1 until late on. Then, after Michail Antonio’s nonchalant cross into the box six minutes into injury time, Palace broke and equalised through Wilfried Zaha.
I hadn’t switched off, but it was a good finish by Zaha, through legs, and I’m bitterly disappointed.
You’ve got to keep the ball in the corner, it’s that simple, and you can’t let people keep running through you and getting chances. Today counts for a point, but that’s about it. We learn simple things.
Hart, who enjoyed a busy yet sensational game on an individual level, was visibly left despondent by his side’s inability to close the game out late on.
West Ham remain in 16th place on the Premier League table and narrowly sit above the relegation zone, with them just one point ahead of 18th-placed Everton.
The Hammers face Liverpool at home next weekend, Everton host Watford and 17th placed Swansea will be at home to Brighton. If results go against West Ham, they could find themselves in the relegation zone, which would only increase the pressure on Slaven Bilic,
If you wish to predict the results of these three games, you should check out the odds on football betting sites.
The Hammers lost the corresponding fixture against Liverpool 4-0 last season with Philippe Coutinho almost single-handedly tearing them apart. The Brazilian missed the weekend win over Huddersfield with an injury and West Ham will be hoping he’s not at his best next weekend as it feels like a game that the home side need to take at least a point from in order to reduce the pressure on the manager.
