Zola knows the way forward

Gianfranco Zola was left to reflect on what might have been after his West Ham United side were unlucky to lose at Hull City on Sunday afternoon.

Michael Turner's second-half header was all that separated the sides with the visitors going close on several occasions. "I feel like we could have got more than one [point] looking at the game that we played and the way we played," said Zola. "I didn't think we were going to come away with nothing. I am convinced that we could have won this game but this is football. Sometimes it's not very logical."

The manager was refusing to get too downhearted, having been impressed with the effort and endeavour of his side. "You just accept the way it is. Sometimes it is very hard and very disappointing but you cannot do anything about it. We played the game the way it should be played.

"Obviously the finishing part is the most difficult thing. Managers can improve a lot of things, but it is down to the players. I totally trust the ability of my players and I am sure we're going to get it right soon ... I don't think we deserved to come away without any points."

One definite positive was the form of Craig Bellamy on his first start in claret and blue for more than a year. "I was pleased. Especially in the first half he played very well. He's been out for a long time so I didn't expect him to be at his best but I'm confident he will be back soon at his full level."

While Bellamy's strike partner Carlton Cole was particularly unlucky to see an effort crash against the bar just after Hull had taken the lead, West Ham United did have the ball in the net when Herita Ilunga kicked the ball up and then hooked it in as Hull goalkeeper Boaz Myhill tried to clear his lines.

"I spoke to referee and he said it was 'dangerous play' but I need to have a look," said Zola. "The referee has booked him and said it is dangerous play because he has interrupted the goalkeeper from kicking the ball - but it didn't look like that from the bench."

The record books will show though that Hull City were the only scorers. "We knew they were dangerous from set-pieces and tried to handle it but sometimes it's very difficult to do that. It's very disappointing. "I'm not disappointed with the goal on its own. I'm just disappointed that we didn't finalise the chances that we created.

"It can happen like this that you can concede goals from free-kicks and corner kicks but when we create chances, we have to score. We need to improve on that. Probably right now, that is the missing part with this team. We need to improve on the finishing because we are creating a lot but we are not finishing."