‘I don’t think we’ve conceded five worse goals since I started here’: Declan Rice bemoans WOEFUL West Ham defending but insists he ‘loves’ working with boss David Moyes despite being dragged into relegation dogfight
- West Ham lost 5-1 at home to Newcastle to plunge them even deeper into peril
- Declan Rice bemoaned their slack defending – while defending the manager
- Squandered the opportunity to put daylight between them and other sides
Declan Rice has bemoaned West Ham’s slack defending following a chastening 5-1 defeat at home to Newcastle that plunges them even further into peril.
West Ham came into the clash off the back of a crucial three points achieved against Southampton at the weekend, though struggled throughout against Eddie Howe’s side and ended up on the receiving end of a thrashing.
David Moyes, who has spent much of the season on the brink of being sacked, stood motionless for large periods of the second half as his side were dominated all over the pitch.
Speaking after the game, West Ham captain Rice said it was a ‘tough one to take’, before laying into his and his fellow players’ defensive efforts for each of the goals.
He offered his support to manager Moyes, saying he ‘loves’ playing under him.
Declan Rice appeared to be on the verge of tears after the final whistle on his side’s drubbing
Rice fronted up and admitted West Ham’s defending for the goals had not been acceptable
David Moyes’ face was an accurate depiction of the scale of West Ham’s loss on Wednesday
‘Tough one to take. Five goals which at any level you can’t concede. Five really poor goals collectively that is not good enough,’ he told Sky Sports. ‘When you play for this badge, what the fans want is desire, hard work and go out on high heels.
‘And today it was a weird one we went 2-0 down, we were pushing. We got the goal and there was a real belief we can get something.
‘But the goal at the start of the second half really killed it off and it was tough to get back from there. The effort was there. When you’re five goals down it’s tough to keep going but you have to always keep pushing.
‘The game got really stretched when we were 2-0 down. When you’re at home and pushing and got fans behind you you don’t want to sit back and defend the game. The five goals is not what West Ham are built on.
‘I don’t think we’ve conceded five worse goals as a team since I’ve started playing for West Ham to be honest with you.’
Goals from Callum Wilson, Joelinton and Alexander Isak consigned the Hammers to defeat. Kurt Zouma briefly got them back into the game, halving the deficit to make it 2-1.
He added regarding Moyes: ‘I love working with the manager. How he is as a person, as a man, he’s great for us. Fans voice their opinion but it’s football.
Kurt Zouma’s effort on the stroke of half-time briefly roused the hosts but their hopes were soon dashed
West Ham face a crucial few weeks as they try desperately to maintain their Premier League status
‘It’s hard because they want to see performances but there has been an inconsistent lack of that this season.
‘We need to keep the positivity. I’m trying to keep the boys in there. I’ve been at West Ham before where you can feel negativity, with this group of boys that’s not happening. I think a run and we can get ourselves out of it.’
The result means West Ham stay 15th, though they have squandered one of their games in hand on the teams below them. Their goal difference has also taken a significant hit, which could yet prove decisive.
Moyes’ side face Fulham on Saturday before hosting league leaders Arsenal. They have a crucial trip to fellow strugglers Bournemouth on April 23, before games against Liverpool and Crystal Palace
Newcastle, meanwhile, stay third with their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League next term growing by the week.
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