David Moyes spoke to reporters on Zoom after West Ham’s 2-2 draw on Sunday
On Newcastle away draw.
“We should have picked one [an away point] up at Sheffield United. I think that, I am disappointed in our defending that we didn’t do better generally but I am not disappointed in the players, in many ways I’m not disappointed in picking a point up but I just felt there was an opportunity to get three and we gave it up so quickly.
After getting the second goal we didn’t give ourselves a chance to get the ball back and settle ourselves down and that is the more disappointing thing. The dressing room knows what I feel like but they also know that coming here to a Newcastle team who have shown good form since we came back from lockdown, it wasn’t the worst result.”
On concerns over fitness?
“We’ve now got Yarmolenko beginning to show some form, Arthur back on the bench today. We’re not sure how Seb Haller is, how he will be for midweek, Mark Noble was back today. So we’re just beginning to get a little bit more back which will give us more options if we need them in the games, which we will do because of the amount of them then we are starting to get one or two back to fitness.”
“I was sickened because of us working so hard to get a goal back and then giving it up so quickly. I thought Newcastle had played quite well in the first half, made it quite difficult for us, but I felt that by second half we had grown into it.
By the end of the game we were probably the team who had created the most chances. I’m not disappointed with that but I am just disappointed to give that second goal up because it is a real difficult one. Some teams would have gone under then but credit to the lads for showing real resilience not to go under and give up a third goal.”
On resilience
“I couldn’t speak highly enough of the players and their attitude, I really couldn’t. What they are giving, what they are trying to do. They are giving their maximum.
We’d like to play better in differnet areas at different times but their attitude and their commitment behind the scenes, they know what it means not just to the players but everybody at West Ham and we are doing everything we can to make sure we are a Premier League team.”
On Tomas Soucek and Antonio
“Well when we got Tomas in we knew he had goals with him, we hadn’t seen it yet but then he played very well against Chelsea and then again today. He’s got other attributes that can help us too. I think Michail Antonio getting another goal is good for him as well so, you know, goals are good but we really need to stop conceding them at the other end. We need a clean sheet. I don’t want to be a team that concedes two goals so has to score three all the time to win”
Gayle would have been offside if Fornals had come out
“Yes but I am more disappointed that the central defenders tried to squeeze up to let him in, we should have been looking where our deepest defender was and make sure they were doing their job as a line.”
It would have been offside if they hadn’t and Fornals had come back in, I think Fornals worked really hard to stop a cross and defend that corner. He just didn’t get out quick enough, it was disappointing especially after just scoring.
On the away point.
“I think we had a lot of games that have been away at big clubs, Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham. But we are in a group of games now where I think we will have chances to pick up points.
If you turn it around and say we got a point against Chelsea and then three here at Newcastle I think people would start seeing we had made the turn so I think the last two games the players have shown big spirit, heart, determination, and commitment to the team.
So the next game is really important, but they all are. Everyone will say the same and we need to get points wherever we can.”
Overall
“I am really pleased with how the players have done and the effort they have put in. Newcastle were in a decent run of form, a good moment but we did a good job today.
The game was nip and tuck, we were on top at the end so I am really pleased we got something from the game, maybe disappointed it wasn’t all three.
The players are showing great fight and it will go right to the end, this league could easily go down to the last game of the season, we understand that and we are prepared for that if it has to be done. But we need to get it done, make sure we are a premier League club as soon as we can before the last knockings.”