El Hadji Malick Diouf felt the frustration as West Ham United were defeated by Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Jean-Philippe Mateta’s and Tyrick Mitchell’s goals, either side of a Jarrod Bowen equaliser, set the visitors up to a 2-1 success at London Stadium, despite an improved second-half showing from the Irons that raised home hopes of victory.
Ultimately those hopes would be dashed by Mitchell’s powerful 68th-minute volley, as the Hammers were unable to register a second win of the 2025/26 campaign - much to Diouf's visible frustration and disappointment.
The Senegal star is not going to feel sorry for himself, though, and has a deep determination to improve the Irons' fortunes.
“Of course we are frustrated, because we don't have the result we want,” the No12 explained. “I think it's very difficult right now, but we have to keep going and continue the hard work because I think it's coming.
“We have to stay patient and stay together.”
Diouf felt the Irons were on top in the period between Bowen’s leveller and Mitchell’s eventual winner, and could well have grabbed the decisive goal themselves on another day.
James Ward-Prowse had a deflected effort held by Dean Henderson, the Palace keeper clawed away a wayward Daniel Muñoz header, and Kyle Walker-Peters headed wide as the home side pressed.
The Hammers left-back says his team have to use that improved spell as fuel as we aim to bounce back at Everton next Monday.
With a full week of preparation on the Rush Green training pitches ahead of them, Diouf is determined that hard work will bear fruit.
“The second half was much better,” he continued. “We scored the goal, but we don't like to be down, so we’ll continue to work and continue to fight.
“Next week we have a difficult game away. We have to stay confident and ready for it – I think if we can follow this and be ready for the next game, we can change it.
“We need the fans, so we just ask them to come and support us. I think it's the most important thing.”
