Pablo Zabaleta admitted West Ham United still have improvements to make after Tuesday’s 3-1 EFL Cup second round win at AFC Wimbledon.
The Hammers fell behind inside two minutes to Joe Pigott’s towering header before the Dons lost defender Rod McDonald to a red card.
Manuel Pellegrini’s team dominated from then on, but it took Issa Diop’s thumping finish and late goals from Angelo Ogbonna and Chicharito to finally turn the tie on its head late on.
Despite going through to the third round, Zabaleta says West Ham need to be more clinical in the final third, especially when they return to Premier League action against Wolverhampton Wanderers at London Stadium on Saturday.
We needed a win after three defeats in the Premier League, especially to bring back confidence to the players, the staff and everyone
Pablo Zabaleta
“We conceded the first goal of the game and it was tough,” the Argentinian began. “Them going down to ten men made it a little easier for us but we need to improve in the final third.
“We are creating so many chances and we need to be more clinical and of course improve on set plays too, because we conceded in the last game on a set play as well so we need to be stronger than that.”
While it may have been harder-fought than Zabaleta and his teammates may have wanted, the No5 insisted victory over the League One side would give the Hammers much-needed confidence after losing their opening three Premier League matches.
With newly-promoted Wolves, who are without a win despite making an impressive start themselves, next on the fixture list, the right-back says West Ham now need to follow up Tuesday’s result and make it back-to-back victories this weekend.
“We needed a win after three defeats in the Premier League, especially to bring back confidence to the players, the staff and everyone,” he confirmed.
“We know we are improving every day and now we need to get three points against Wolves.
"This is the best way to improve as a team. Winning games, gaining confidence and playing games in the way the manager wants us to play. I hope, going forward, we can continue to create those chances in every game, but be better in the final third.”