- Michail Antonio was feeling low after Saturday's dramatic defeat at Tottenham Hotspur
- Spurs scored twice in the final minutes to snatch a 3-2 win at White Hart Lane
- The wing-back had earlier scored his sixth goal of the season
Michail Antonio could hardly contain his ‘pain’ after West Ham United slipped to a 3-2 Premier League defeat at Tottenham Hotspur.
The No30 headed the Hammers ahead with his sixth of the season, and Slaven Bilic’s side looked on course to end Spurs’ unbeaten start when Manuel Lanzini fired home a second-half penalty to put his side 2-1 up.
However, two Harry Kane goals in the closing stages – the second a penalty of his own – broke West Ham hearts and left Antonio in despair.
“I don’t even know what to say,” said the wing-back. “It was one of those games where we were in the lead and stupid mistakes have ended up with us losing.
“I feel embarrassed because we know the importance of this game to the fans. We’ve done well, we’ve got the lead, they’ve come back, we’ve got the lead again and we’ve held out until the last seven minutes of the game.
“If we’d held on, we’d have got a good win for the team, moved up the table and moved on, but instead we made mistakes. We thought we’d won the game but we switched off. That’s all I can say.
“Our gameplan was working but the last six or seven minutes we just couldn’t keep the ball out of our net.”
Antonio’s raw emotion came at the end of a typically rollercoaster affair between the two London rivals.
The No30 nodded West Ham in front at half-time, before debutant Harry Winks levelled for the hosts.
All I am feeling is pain. It’s just one of those things and we need to start over again
Michail Antonio
Lanzini fired home after Winston Reid had been fouled, before Kane converted Hueng-min Son’s cross to equalise for a second time. The England striker then beat Darren Randolph from 12 yards after substitute Havard Nordtveit had fouled Son in the first minute of added time.
Reid was then sent-off for two bookable offences, meaning he will miss next weekend’s trip to Manchester United, where West Ham desperately need something to regain lost confidence.
“The feeling when I scored was special, but that feeling has gone now,” admitted Antonio. “All I am feeling is pain. It’s just one of those things and we need to start over again.
“Winston will be a massive miss because he’s a big part of our team. He played well and we need the players who are playing consistently well and he’s one of them. Now, someone else is going to have to step up and show their best.”