Thursday 14 January 2016 15:38, UK
Slaven Bilic says West Ham were rewarded for their patience following Saturday's FA Cup third-round victory over Wolves.
After dominating throughout the game, Nikica Jelavic eventually broke Wolves' resistance with an 86th-minute volley at Upton Park - the Croatian's first goal for the Hammers.
Bilic, who admits he was preparing for a draw, was quick to praise Jelavic's match-winning strike against Kenny Jackett's "stubborn" side.
"First of all, it's an FA Cup game, and they are very often tough even when you play against teams from two or three levels below," said Bilic,
"I lost a game here as a player against Wrexham. So it's well done to the lads, they played against a team which won their last three games without conceding.
"They were very stubborn, resilient, and it's the same old story to unlock it; it has to be their mistake, or a shot from outside the box, or some extra quality.
"But we were patient, we kept our shape and [substitute] Andy [Carroll] as usual had a big impact and helped Jelavic score a wonderful goal. It's good to go through with a clean sheet and a great goal.
"We were getting ready for a replay but the guys did everything to try to score. They pushed and pushed, it wasn't the Alamo but if one team was trying to win it in one game it was us and we got our reward.
"I don't think there will be any complaints from their side."
Jackett, who is set to lose striker Benik Afobe to Bournemouth in a £10m deal, says his side were left to rue Adam le Fondre's injury-time miss, with the striker dragging a 15-yard effort wide of goal.
"That was probably our best chance of the game," said the Wanderers boss. "It was a spirited performance, very resolute. We were working hard to take the game to West Ham but we couldn't get the goal.
"It cost us in the end as they had one clear-cut chance and they took it."
Jackett is waiting for an update on the condition of striker Bjorn Sigurdarson, who left the field on a stretcher having just returned from a serious back injury.
"He just collapsed, there was no one near him," added Jackett. "It's his back. We hope he is okay."
