Pedro Obiang says yesterday’s 2-2 draw against Leicester was a frustrating result for the side to take as the Foxes struck in stoppage time to earn a point.
Obiang came on as a late substitute and just moments after his introduction saw his long-range effort cannon off the foot of the post. Fortunately for the Hammers the rebound fell to the feet of fellow substitute Lucas Perez who tapped home at the first attempt to put the Irons 2-1 ahead at London Stadium.
It would’ve been the perfect introduction had Obiang got on the scoresheet, and he thought his first-time effort was destined to ripple the net.
“A goal's coming but I couldn’t score,” he said. “Lucas scores, he’s a really good friend so for me it’s really good.
“Probably if I score next time it’s better! In the end we take that point because he scores. We have to improve some things, like the manager says, about the goals we receive.
“I started shouting ‘Felipe, please find me [with] the ball, give it to me!’ I’ve seen the space, I expected more but anyway, it’s maybe an assist because it’s the post so I’ll take it.”
It's seriously frustrating because we’re working hard to try and take some points and today we were really close
Pedro Obiang
The result leaves the Hammers winless in four following Harvey Barnes’ injury time leveller, but Obiang insists the side isn’t far away from turning that poor form around, starting with next Saturday’s trip to Tottenham’s new stadium.
“Yeah it’s seriously frustrating because we’re working hard to try and take some points and today we were really close but we didn’t take it,” he added. “Now we are trying to play for ourselves, our supporters and even to try and finish in the best way possible.
“If we can take some points it’s better. At the end of the day if people are happy with what we’re trying to we are happy as well.
“That [Spurs] game is really important for us because it’s a derby. Probably we can make a gift to all the people and give them a great win. We have to wait, we’re working this week.”
West Ham were perhaps unfortunate not to have gone 3-1 in front after Lucas Perez’s second was adjudged to have been offside before Barnes’ equaliser.
Had VAR been in place, the Hammers would likely be two points better off and Obiang believes it will be a welcome addition to the Premier League.
“I’ve seen the picture, I know it’s really hard, really difficult to take that decision,” Obiang said. “Probably for us it changes our season because we can take some points but we have to wait until next season.
“We expect with VAR to have an improvement in football and even give the best chances to the squad.”