Sam Allardyce could not fault his team's play in the goalless draw against Bristol City but lamented the inability to take just one of the 19 chances created.
Such profligacy meant a promising home performance that rivalled the 4-0 defeat of Blackpool and 3-2 win against Leicester in the previous two Boleyn encounters ultimately ended in a frustrating manner. Still, Big Sam stressed that seven points from the last nine was promotion form and enough to send the Hammers to Hull City on Saturday in strong spirits.
"I suppose we have to accept days like this," he said. "We just lacked the cutting edge that we had on Saturday when we were so sharp [against Leicester]. It is amazing, just 72 hours ago we were striking balls into the back of the net. Tonight it just eluded us and they came and went on numerous occasions. It was not just one or two."
Bristol City, as was to be expected given their last-placed position, were in defensive mood but the manager praised the way his team found space to create clear-cut openings time and again in front of David James' goal.
"I thought the lads did exceedingly well. We had 19 attempts on goal, ten on target, but unfortunately didn't convert one of them into the goal we should have done - particularly at the start of the second half when the chances came thick and fast.
"Unfortunately for us we just have to accept the point."
Saturday's two-goal hero Sam Baldock had a "quiet night" while Freddie Piquionne, in for knee injury victim John Carew, had several opportunities but spurned them all.
Freddie Sears, playing wide left in place of the rested Jack Collison, had an early effort crash against the post while Mark Noble went close right at the death with a header from close range. "We could go on and on with the amount of chances we missed," the manager added.
"That all-important victory would have been well-deserved, the way we played means we should have won it. It is frustrating night and that can happen. I have to praise the lads for how they created and committed themselves.
"We have had 29 crosses so it showed that the creativity was good but the end product to put one in the back of the net we haven't managed. We are all very sick in the dressing room as we know that performance should have reaped us the valuable three points. We have to take it on the chin. We haven't lost, we know we should have won but we take the point and we move on."
Carew will have his injury assessed on Wednesday but is doubtful for the weekend while Winston Reid's dislocated shoulder that caused his early substitution is even more cause for concern. The New Zealand defender went to hospital for a scan before returning before the end of the game.
"If we are lucky he will be out for four to five weeks, if it doesn't need an operation or pinning. It does mean I'll need to go out and look in the market for a loan player for that period of time if I can find one.
"If you look at what we have had to suffer in terms of changes through injuries, our performances in those circumstances has been outstanding. We are a team that has constantly changed its personnel but is still producing attacking football and chances. This was an even better performance than against Leicester but didn't get the win.
"We are looking very much forward to the international break. It will be well received. We have to keep the run of results going and come away with points at Hull City before that.
"It will be a difficult game, but if we can get the same performance I think we can win there, and then look to resolve some of our problems over the international break and perhaps add to the squad with a loan player."