Fuming Rice lays down Hammers gauntlet

An angry Declan Rice insists the Hammers are nowhere near the level they set last season and must start improving quickly.

The Irons lost 2-0 to Brighton on Sunday, meaning that they have now gone three games without a win, having also been defeated by Manchester City and Nottingham Forest.

The Hammers face Aston Villa next week in the league, after playing Viborg in midweek, before taking on Spurs, Chelsea and an in-form Newcastle.

Rice insists that he has been left “disappointed” by the club’s performances thus far and has urged his team-mates to turn it around.

Speaking to the club’s official website on the back of the dispiriting Brighton defeat, the Hammers skipper said: “As you can see on my face I’m annoyed and disappointed because this is not the level we have set over the last two years.

“We know as a group of players if you lose the first three games you’re constantly chasing, and we don’t want to do that.

“Look at the start we had last year – we were on fire and it set the tone for the season. It’s down to us to pick up and go again.”

Rice felt that the penalty conceded by Thilo Kehrer was a turning point in the game against the Seagulls, which allowed Alexis Mac Allister to score he opening goal of the game, but he has been disappointed with the performance overall.

He added: “In the first half I thought there were glimpses where we could have done better, but we stayed in the game, kept possession of the ball, moved it around but couldn’t get that killer touch.

“Obviously you concede a penalty and from there it’s an uphill task. It was a poor goal to concede in the second half but, look, we need to get back on it.

“As a group of lads, last year and the year before we were so good because we were honest, we stayed together, we worked our socks off on the pitch and gave everything. I think from the start in these first three games we’re feeling a little bit sorry for ourselves. There’s no easy game in the Premier League so unless you start to work and get three points on the board you’ll be chasing.”