Gary O’Neil says the rest of his team’s performance becomes irrelevant when they gift teams goals like they did West Ham United on Sunday.
The Old Gold gave the ball away for all three of West Ham’s goals and were punished on every occasion during a game in which O’Neil believes the scoreline didn’t tell the full story. The head coach revealed three players put themselves forward despite suffering illness and was disappointed to see Pablo Sarabia’s goal ruled out for offside by VAR, but insists the group must improve quickly.
On errors costing his team
“They’re three disastrous goals that we concede from nothing. We beat ourselves today, really. We gave West Ham the game, they didn’t do a lot to cause us any problems apart from the three massive counter attack spaces that we left and they punished us on all of them.
“We can discuss the performance from there really, but it’s all irrelevant if we do so poorly in big moments like that in the Premier League, you stand no chance. Really disappointed with those and need to make sure we improve.”
On his main frustrations
“For people in the game analysing, there was nothing in the game. We’re absolutely fine structurally and were going to cause West Ham some problems around movement. We were in a decent shape without the ball and gave them a crazy goal from a corner where we’re not set up correctly on the edge of the box. Then, we commit to attacking down our left early and turn the ball over in the middle of the pitch for the second.
“Disappointed with that because the lads didn’t give themselves a chance today because of those errors. How we managed to lose the second half sums it up really, we were in complete control and knocking on the door and gave away another crazy goal. It’s on us, on myself and on the group to make sure that we improve. Disappointed with today, but players are coming back.”
On VAR ruling out Sarabia’s goal
“Live it looked just offside, so no complaints. Disappointed because it was a fantastic team goal – a real good goal, sort of how we tried to play the whole game. We managed to get a real good attack and at 2-0 down, to make it 2-1 would have made it interesting. Disappointed really, no complaints around the decision.”
On injuries in the camp
“Rayan’s managed to get some minutes under his belt which is important, hopefully Jose won’t be out for long, Pedro’s nearly back. There are reasons at the moment why we’re not at full strength. Mario, Cunha and ‘Dawse’ all played ill, they suffered a virus overnight in the hotel, so fair play to them for putting themselves forward to play.
“Sa had a collision with one of the outfield players yesterday in training and was fine, he finished training and travelled down on the bus and woke up this morning and had a bit of a lack of range of movement in his shoulder, so he wasn’t available to play. Those things happen, zero excuses, we need to be better and I’m sure we will be.
“We’ve just been a little bit short, and a little bit can turn into a lot in a Premier League game. We need to get back to full strength and make sure we get a good result next week.”
On no lack of character
“Positives in the game. I know when you lose 3-0 nobody wants to hear them, but I thought Pablo’s work rate in the game was excellent, Joao Gomes kept going, three lads played ill, so as a group and where we are, I have no doubt we’ll be absolutely fine and will be able to kick on again. Today was a day where a few things came together, and we weren’t able to get to our level.
“There was no lack of effort, togetherness or willingness to work today. However, the Premier League’s ruthless and if we make three really bad decisions, then you’re going to concede goals and if we don’t show enough quality in the final moments.
“The amount of times we were in the West Ham penalty area and didn’t find enough quality to get a shot off. There was one in the first half which falls to Bellegarde with the gaping goal in front of him and he miss controls it. Those little moments are huge in Premier League games and West Ham were far better at them than we were. The rest of the game becomes irrelevant when there’s such a gulf in what you can produce in front of goal.”
