James Collins says it is about time the Hammers learned their lesson, after conceding another late leveller in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Stoke City
James Collins pulled no punches after West Ham United saw another lead disappear in the dying seconds on Saturday.
With the Hammers seemingly on course to record successive Barclays Premier League home wins, Stoke City’s Marko Arnautovic plundered a 95th minute leveller to floor Collins and co.
It is a feeling that the Wales international is becoming all too accustomed to and he insists that the Hammers have to be more professional in the game’s final throes.
“It’s a loss,” he said. “The game’s over, we’ve got to be more street wise and know how to win games.
“We’ve done it too many times this season and we haven’t learned from it. Everyone’s bitterly disappointed.
“We’ve only ourselves to blame. The game’s over, we’ve got to keep it in the corner, do anything to win the football match and we’re not doing that.
“It was three points in the bag, not the prettiest game again. But three points are three points, especially with the run we’re on. There’s not a lot more you can say.”
On a more positive note, Collins was suitably impressed with Aaron Cresswell’s splendid opener, one that was certainly worthy of winning the game.
He continued: “It’s a great free-kick and he’s worked on it a bit. We haven’t scored too many from direct free-kicks, I can hardly remember any, so for him to do that was great. Obviously it would have been better for him if we’d hung on for the win, but that hasn’t happened.”
The No19 felt the Hammers could and should have made more of their perfect start, rather than being forced to retreat in the game’s latter stages.
“They had a lot of chances. They’ve hit the post and the two goals are offside, I know. But if you go 1-0 up in the first seven minutes, you feel like you’ve got to push on and go to score more goals, not sit back and hang on, as we did on Saturday."
With the Hammers seemingly on course to record successive Barclays Premier League home wins, Stoke City’s Marko Arnautovic plundered a 95th minute leveller to floor Collins and co.
It is a feeling that the Wales international is becoming all too accustomed to and he insists that the Hammers have to be more professional in the game’s final throes.
“It’s a loss,” he said. “The game’s over, we’ve got to be more street wise and know how to win games.
“We’ve done it too many times this season and we haven’t learned from it. Everyone’s bitterly disappointed.
“We’ve only ourselves to blame. The game’s over, we’ve got to keep it in the corner, do anything to win the football match and we’re not doing that.
“It was three points in the bag, not the prettiest game again. But three points are three points, especially with the run we’re on. There’s not a lot more you can say.”
On a more positive note, Collins was suitably impressed with Aaron Cresswell’s splendid opener, one that was certainly worthy of winning the game.
He continued: “It’s a great free-kick and he’s worked on it a bit. We haven’t scored too many from direct free-kicks, I can hardly remember any, so for him to do that was great. Obviously it would have been better for him if we’d hung on for the win, but that hasn’t happened.”
The No19 felt the Hammers could and should have made more of their perfect start, rather than being forced to retreat in the game’s latter stages.
“They had a lot of chances. They’ve hit the post and the two goals are offside, I know. But if you go 1-0 up in the first seven minutes, you feel like you’ve got to push on and go to score more goals, not sit back and hang on, as we did on Saturday."