Sam hails 'outstanding' West Ham

Sam Allardyce hailed his 'outstanding' team following Sunday's 1-1 Barclays Premier League draw with Manchester United.

West Ham United looked on course to beat the Red Devils for the first time since December 2007 when Cheikhou Kouyate volleyed them in front on 49 minutes at the Boleyn Ground.

Both before and after the stand-in centre-back's goal, the Hammers were denied repeatedly by goalkeeper David De Gea, who saved well from Enner Valencia, James Tomkins, Mark Noble and Kevin Nolan.

At the other end, Adrian denied Robin van Persie and Falcao fired wide but, just when it looked like the hosts would secure a fine win, Carl Jenkinson's header dropped to Daley Blind, who volleyed into the bottom corner from 18 yards.

"It is disappointing because we were at the level when we beat Liverpool and Manchester City earlier this season and it allowed us to perform so well against Manchester United," the manager began.

"The disappointing thing is that they have popped in the equaliser in the 92nd minute, which was nothing to do with any sort of great play you would normally associate with Manchester United, but a long punt down the middle in desperation that they might get half a chance.

"Let's face it, it wasn't an easy goal he scored, but they have quality all over their team and they can sniff one out from half a chance, which is what that was. Sadly for us, it ended up as a draw and not another famous win at Upton Park."
De Gea kept the score down to 1-0 and they've finally managed to snatch a draw, but everybody had an outstanding game for us and Cheik Kouyate was a well-deserved Man of the Match - not only for the quality of his goal, but his overall performance at centre-half against Van Persie, Falcao, Rooney and Di Maria
Big Sam lamented the display of Spain stopper De Gea who, at times, was the only man standing between West Ham and a comfortable victory.

"You've got a £20m goalkeeper who has kept Man United in the game and he was more responsible for them getting a draw than Blind's late equaliser because he made so many good saves when they needed him," he continued.

"He kept the score down to 1-0 and they've finally managed to snatch a draw, but everybody had an outstanding game for us and Cheik Kouyate was a well-deserved Man of the Match - not only for the quality of his goal, but his overall performance at centre-half against Van Persie, Falcao, Rooney and Di Maria.

"Everybody played well and I couldn't ask for any more. It's just disappointing for them that they haven't won the game."

West Ham will need to get over any disappointment in double-quick time, with a trip to third-place Southampton up next on Wednesday evening.

The Hammers were beaten 3-1 by the Saints in the reverse fixture in east London back in August and have conceded just 17 goals in 24 league matches, but Big Sam says West Ham will give it their all to overcome Ronald Koeman's side in midweek.

"It's difficult to maintain this level and recover because we've played Man United on Sunday and Southampton played QPR on Saturday, but they've got to take a lot of confidence from how they played and try and lift themselves, starting on Monday morning, to be ready for Southampton," the manager explained.

"We know how difficult that game will be. People were surprised they beat us here at the start of the season, but they've now seen what a quality team they are throughout the season.

"We've been outstanding as well, but not been quite as consistent as them with the victories that we've gained. They've had one or two more victories, but hopefully we can lift ourselves to the same level of performance on Wednesday.

"With where Southampton are, we will need to be at our best to get anything out of the game."