Valon Behrami admitted to having mixed emotions after West Ham United fought out an entertaining 2-2 Premier League draw at Newcastle United.
The Switzerland midfielder was his usual effervescent self as the Hammers recovered from a goal down to lead 2-1, only for Andy Carroll's 78th-minute header to deny them a second consecutive away victory. Afterwards, Behrami said he and his team-mates had ultimately been left disappointed not to secure three points at St James' Park.
"It was a strange game because we were losing and then we were winning. I think the emotion I felt when the game was finished was disappointment because we could have won the game. If we had won, we would have been in a very, very good position. I think we showed the right mentality but we should not be happy with this result."
Michael Owen had given the Magpies a 19th-minute lead before Gianfranco Zola's side struck back through superbly taken goals from Craig Bellamy and Carlton Cole - the fourth consecutive match in which the 25-year-old had scored. However, Carroll's late intervention denied the visitors a point.
While in the past West Ham United might have been happy with a point on Tyneside, the Hammers went north on a run of five away matches undefeated and full of confidence. As a result, the 23-year-old admitted he and his team-mates felt they had missed an opportunity to win at Newcastle for the first time since 1998.
"I think this is a good moment for us. Everybody gave their all to get the result. Maybe we would have been happier with this point earlier in the season but we had a lot of opportunities to close the game so we are little bit disappointed. We have to carry on doing what we are doing and we'll be OK.
"In the first half we were thinking if we could draw it would be OK but after half-time we wanted the three points. We had the chances to win the game. We have to improve."