Monday 30 November 2015 08:21, UK
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic was left frustrated by the 1-1 draw with West Brom but he had no complaints over the result.
The Hammers went ahead in the 17th minute after a fantastic free-kick from Mauro Zarate, but a Winston Reid own goal, as he deflected in Rickie Lambert's shot, saw the spoils shared at Upton Park.
"At the end of the day, we're not happy but it is a fair result," Billc told Sky Sports.
"I think if we were up two or not to mention three in the first half, we probably would have held on in this game. But I have to be realistic, that in the second half, they deserved the goal that was enough to give them the point.
"In the first half, we played really well and at half-time I was pleased with the way we played, especially after we scored the goal.
"We deserved to be a minimum of 2-0 ahead because after Zarate's magnificent goal, we were all over them and we created three or four great chances and their keeper made three or four really good saves.
"In the second half, we started well but after they scored the goal, it gave them the confidence and it blocked us. We came back, created some chances and they had one good chance, but the game wasn't as fluid as it was in the first half. So if I take the first half and second half, it's probably a fair result."
Bilic also praised the quality of Zarate's strike as he earned his reward for dedicating time to set-pieces in training.
"Mauro has got a special kind of shooting skill," said Bilic. "Whether it is from a dead ball or a free-kick or from open play, like he did against Chelsea for example, he's just got it.
"He's always practising. When it comes to free-kicks, it's all about if he's going to hit the wall because he hits it too hard and usually if the ball goes over the wall the way he wants, it's very difficult for a goalkeeper to stop it. It was a great strike and a pleasure to see."
Bilic also expressed concern over an injury to Diafra Sakho, who was replaced by Nikica Jelavic late in the game.
"That worries me more than the result," Bilic added.
"It's still too early before the scan to give a diagnosis but it looks like a muscle injury. It's a big blow for us after losing Valencia and Payet and it's a bit too much if I'm honest."
