Former West Ham United midfielder and fan Lee Bowyer has been discussing in detail his old club’s 3-2 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic and Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino
The Hammers are one point and one place above the relegation zone after a woeful record of seven defeats from their opening 12 games this season.
The latest came at White Hart Lane on Saturday as they threw away a 2-1 lead with just minutes left to lose 3-2 to bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
West Ham have the second worst defensive record in the Premier League with only Hull conceding more.
Slaven Bilic’s side are struggling at the other end too highlighted by the fact not one of the club’s strikers has scored a single goal this season 18 competitive games in.
The Hammers also hold the unwelcome record of squandering the most points in the league, giving away eight from winning positions so far – a haul which would now see them sitting joint sixth in the table instead of 17th.
Under pressure: Bilic
Bilic has been criticised by West Ham fans in the wake of the defeat for substitutions which they feel cost their side the game.
But former Hammers midfielder Bowyer, who had two separate spells at his boyhood club, has told talkSPORT Bilic’s side deserved to win even if his seven-year-old son knew they would throw it away.
Former West Ham United midfielder and lifelong fan Lee Bowyer
“I was watching it with my little boy and then at 2-2 he said ‘Oh dad I think we’re gonna lose’ and I said ‘No, no we’ll be alright boy we’ll be alright’ and then all of a sudden,” Bowyer told Alan Brazil’s Sports Breakfast.
“Do you know what the manager, I feel sorry for him, because he had everything (right), the tactics were right at the weekend.
“Payet is a luxury player … but to be fair he did work hard and I was surprised I see him running back, tracking back (on Kyle) Walker.
Bowyer says Diafra Sakho should not have been substituted
“I think at that stage probably he was the right one to take off but (Diafra) Sakho I would have kept on because he works hard and the two centre halves didn’t have no time on the ball so they couldn’t just play through the midfield willy nilly.
“As soon as they bought that (Simone) Zaza on, he didn’t move so then everytime it went up to him it broke down and then they (Spurs) was on the attack.
“That’s why I feel sorry for the manager because (it comes down to) decision-making is all it came down to like the second goal all they’ve got to do is stop the cross, there’s two of them there just stop the cross.
West Ham United’s Havard Nordtveit gifted Spurs the win
“And then obviously the last one the fella’s (Havard Nordtveit) sliding in he ain’t going nowhere, what’s he doing he’s not going anywhere.
“That’s not the manager’s fault it’s just pure decision-making but it’s shame because they played really well and I think they deserved to win but that’s what the Premier League does doesn’t it, if you don’t play and see out the game you get punished.”
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