Chicharito: West Ham can take positives from Southampton defeat

Chicharito believes West Ham United can take heart from a spirited fightback despite ultimately losing 3-2 at Southampton.

Javier Hernandez scored his first two Premier League goals for the Hammers on Saturday to bring Slaven Bilic’s side back level after the Saints took a 2-0 lead.

If not for a debatable penalty decision in the 90th minute – which Charlie Austin tucked away – the Irons would have left St Mary’s with a well-earned point.

But Chicharito believes West Ham United’s true ability was shown with the comeback, and the spirit from this is the key factor for the team to remember rather than the heartbreak of the defeat.

"I will take confidence from my goals,” Hernandez said: “They show the character of this team. We never give up and we tried to improve as much as we can following the last game [the loss to Manchester United].

“I’m happy that I scored two goals. You need to look on the bright side, at the positive things. Getting off the mark gives me motivation and it gives me confidence.”

You need to look on the bright side. Getting off the mark gives me motivation and it gives me confidence. 

Chicharito

The Mexican admitted that he and his West Ham teammates were frustrated by a couple of refereeing decisions but feels the side can also take positives from their performance with ten men, after Marko Arnautovic was shown a red card in the first half. 

It was after Arnautovic’s dismissal that the Irons scored their two goals. Hernandez was on hand to tuck home after Michail Antonio’s shot was saved, and was again in the right place to score following a Diafra Sakho header that was palmed onto the crossbar. 

“When you’re playing most of the game with ten men it’s really frustrating,” Hernandez conceded: “But we came back.

“It is very hard to play with just ten men. With eleven men it’s hard so with ten it’s very, very hard. We did it pretty well and we were drawing the game.

“Sometimes we make mistakes. It’s very frustrating because we played a good game after the sending off. We need to move forward.”

Moving forward means looking to West Ham United’s Carabao Cup contest with Cheltenham Town on Wednesday evening.

Chicharito will be hoping to once again get on the scoresheet in the cup match this week as Slaven Bilic’s side look to progress into the third round of the tournament.