Sunday 18 January 2015 23:19, UK
Steve Bruce rued his Hull City team's inability to take a string of first-half chances after a 3-0 defeat to West Ham.
Hull started the game brightly at Upton Park on Sunday, with Sone Aluko giving James Tomkins a torrid time in the first 30 minutes, but they were unable to maintain their momentum and after making the breakthrough soon after the restart, the Hammers added two more in three second-half minutes.
The visitors had nine shots, three of which were on target, but they were unable to convert any.
Bruce said: "When you’re on top and you come away from home and create as many chances as we did, you have to score. And there it is – our inability to score - our Achilles heel.
"We all know how difficult it is, but the top end of the pitch is the most crucial one. Where we’ve been rock solid for a long time in the season we’ve made so many mistakes and individuals errors in the second half, which is a shame because we played very well in the first half. But you’ve got to get in front."
Allan McGregor could only parry Enner Valencia's effort in the 49th minute and Andy Carroll was there on the rebound.
Bruce added: "I think (McGregor) will be disappointed and when it spills out you want one of your defenders to get there quicker than a striker. But Carroll reacted quicker than Curtis (Davies) and it goes in the back of the net."
The defeat leaves Hull in the relegation zone - one point from safety - and the former Manchester United defender knows they have to improve quickly if they are to remain in the top flight.
Bruce added: "We just wanted to play as well in the second half. And to be fair to West Ham, they’ve changed it a little bit and got it forward. And we defended poorly in the second half.
"For all our good work in the first half, it’s unravelled with the second goal where we were all over the place at times. We’ve had to make two changes at half-time and we didn’t get settled quickly enough."
