Ryan Fredericks produced a good performance against Chelsea but once again found himself bemoaning the Irons slow start.
Frankly, it’s becoming too regular a habit although there were excuses last night as the hosts were in no mood to do much else but take the game by the scruff of the neck from the kick off.
However, the decision to pull Chicharito and switch Marko Arnaurovic from the right wing to line leader made a big difference as the Hammers carried the game to Chelsea in the second half.
And with a bit more fortune an equaliser looked on notably when Marko set up Manu Lanzini with a fine lay off which sadly the midfielder telegraphed into the keeper’s arms.
But once again we were done by a slow start which whilst at times saw us enjoying possession finally led nowhere but to the halfway line.
The tactical switch made a difference and for the first time we heard “Bubbles” around the stadium although sadly it proved too little too late.
Fredericks admitted to www.whufc.com: ” The first half, we weren’t at it at all, and I think we probably gave them a bit too much respect.
“We didn’t play our stuff and the manager told us that he wasn’t happy with the first half – and rightly so. We came out for the second and we were a bit better.
“We had a couple of chances and, on another day, maybe Arnie’s header goes in or Cresswell’s shot might go in. But they are a world-class side with world-class players, and on their day, it is hard to stop them.”
He added: “We’ve got good enough players in our team to not come to these places and just sit back and try to stop them from scoring. We need to be taking the game to whoever we are playing, and we showed that in the second half.
“There were points in the second half where I felt like we were getting on top, and they weren’t really creating too much. We were going for the game so much that, in the last ten minutes, the lads were shattered, and they made their chance at the end.”
With Manchester United next up the right back has called on the team not to make the same mistake of givng the opposition too much respect.
He added: “ The top six teams have got great players, but so have we. We need to go into every game, no matter who we are playing, and take the game to them.”
Same old story. Bored of it. It’s become as laughable (and seemingly unfixable) as our ability to be consistent. Just one game, it would be good if the lads could show a bit of intensity from the first whistle. How difficult is that?