Declan’s dream dies and he says: “It’s horrible”
We may well have dominated the game but our emerging habit of not finishing things off in the final third has cost us dear.
Our inability to break down a massed defence was another huge factor as it was against Everton and the reality is teams know how we play and organise themselves accordingly.
We certainly had our chances but in the end it meant that we had to battle our brains out to get an equaliser via Said Benrahma’s first goal of the season.
Declan was deeply disappointed declaring after the game that t he lads could not have battled harder all season long to make what still seems like a wild dream a reality.
And the truth is that it was probably key injuries which did for us in the final countdown.
Declan said:”‘It’s horrible, because we had the Champions League in our sights. We need to be winning and we’ve drawn too many. We’ve still got to be upbeat.
‘I thought we dominated the game, but we’ve missed so many chances. At one stage, it looked possible.
The change around has been phenomenal. If we win our last two games, that will be West Ham’s best-ever (Premier League) season. “
‘We’ve given everything. Since pre-season, the manager’s been on us. That was a real bite in the teeth (drawing with Brighton). The injury (Rice suffered weeks ago) was a shock after playing so much.
‘You think you’re invincible. He (Said Benrahma) deserves it (getting his first goal for the club). He’s had a mixed time here. Hopefully he can kick on.’