David Moyes rues 'missed opportunity' as West Ham miss Europa League
PA Media
Date published Sun 22 May 2022 18.26 BST

David Moyes warned his West Ham players they will be out of the door should they repeat the dismal second-half performance which cost the club a Europa League return. West Ham, who endured semi-final heartbreak in the continental competition just over two weeks ago, were on course to snatch sixth position from Manchester United after Michail Antonio put them ahead. But second-half strikes from Joel Veltman, Pascal Gross and Danny Welbeck earned Brighton a deserved success to prevent Moyes's men capitalising on United's defeat at Crystal Palace.

The east London club must be content with a place in the Europa Conference League next term following the costly capitulation, much to the annoyance of their disgruntled manager.

"I'm just feeling there's a missed opportunity and I'm really disappointed with our overall performance," Moyes said.

"Second half, you could have driven a bus through us so many times and we didn't show any real desire to make it hard for them to score against us.

"We didn't play well and not like a West Ham team in the second half. Really disappointing. There was no resilience, no toughness, nothing about us in the second half. If we're going to play like that then we're going to be challenging in a different part of the league. I won't have them if they're going to play like that."

West Ham's trip to the Amex Stadium was their 56th fixture of a gruelling campaign, which included a two-legged loss to eventual winners Eintracht Frankfurt in the last four of the Europa League. The visitors returned for the second half in Sussex knowing that Ralf Rangnick's side were behind against Palace but proceeded to fall apart as Veltman swiftly cancelled out Antonio's superb opener before Gross and Welbeck struck in the final 10 minutes.

Moyes refused to blame tiredness for his team failing to take advantage of United's slip up at Selhurst Park.

"I wouldn't because I would feel it would be a excuse and I won't give the players that room," said the West Ham manager. "They know I'm not happy. I'm not really that bothered what their mood is, but you can tell what my mood is and I'm hoping my mood is reflecting on how they're reacting and how they feel.

Brighton's comeback victory secured the highest finish in the club's 121-year history. The Seagulls, who could have slipped as low as 14th, climbed above Wolves into ninth spot to end in the top half of the Premier League for the first time.

The Albion head coach, Graham Potter, who oversaw winless runs of 11 and seven games this term, said: "I'm really proud of the side. There have been moments in the season that have been challenging. I'm sure the experts out there will say 'should have done this, should have done that' but generally in the Premier League it's so difficult.

"You have to stick together, we've done that and to end up where we have is amazing."

Daily Mail: MATCH FACTS AND PLAYER RATINGS
Brighton (3-4-2-1): Sanchez 6; Veltman 6, Dunk 6.5, Webster 6.5; March 6 (Lamptey 75, 6), Bissouma 6 (Maupay 45, 6.5), Caicedo 6.5 (Mwepu 79), Cucurella 7; Gross 7.5, Mac Allister 6.5; Welbeck 7
Subs (not used): Steele, Lallana, Alzate, Duffy, Offiah, Ferguson
Scorers: Veltman (50), Gross (80), Welbeck (90+2)
Booked: Maupay
Manager: Graham Potter 7
West Ham (4-2-3-1): Fabianski 5.5; Coufal 6 (Johnson 81), Dawson 5.5, Zouma 5.5, Cresswell 5.5; Soucek 5.5, Rice 6; Bowen 5.5, Lanzini 6 (Noble 81), Fornals 5.5 (Yarmolenko 81); Antonio 6
Subs (not used): Areola, Randolph, Fredericks, Masuaku, Kral, Oko-Flex
Scorers: Antonio (40)
Booked: Soucek
Manager: David Moyes 5.5
Referee: Kevin Friend 6
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