Boss Kieran McKenna felt West Ham didn’t have to work too hard for their goals as the Blues were defeated 4-1 on their first visit to the London Stadium.

Town fell to only their third defeat of the season, the previous two were to top two Liverpool and Manchester City, having previously been on a run of four draws.

“It ended up a disappointing day for us,” McKenna reflected. “I think there was a large majority of the first half was a competitive game, a really good game, we played some good football, and it was evenly fought.

“And obviously we conceded some poor goals at poor times in the game that changed the momentum in the game and it ends up a comfortable victory for West Ham.

“I think we weren’t too far off, as much as the game ends up very, very differently, I don’t think we were too far off it being a good, competitive performance, but there were some moments in there that completely changed the momentum of the game and in the end West Ham were worthy winners and were much better in the second half.”

Defensive solidity had been the hallmark of the four draws but McKenna admitted that mistakes at the back contributed to the loss.

“There were some errors in there,” he continued. “I think West Ham played differently to anyone we’ve played so far, they were very, very direct.

“I think that was what we struggled with really, they were really direct to [Michail] Antonio, he did a fantastic job with the aerial stuff and bringing people into play.

“They went direct to [Tomas] Soucek, probably did better than us on the second balls and it was really those moments that we struggled to deal with the most.

“It was different when the game went to 3-1 and 4-1, then they started to show their individual quality and there were some passages of play but in general the first 60 minutes of the game, it was the direct play we didn’t deal with well enough.

“The goals and chances generally came from those moments and some mistakes from us, some good play from West Ham in those phases and lots for us to learn.”

He added: “If the half-time whistle goes on 30, 35 minutes, which of course in football it doesn’t, I think we would have been happy going in at half-time with still more to come and a good competitive game.

“But they didn’t have to work too hard for their goals, probably the fourth one was good play from them, we didn’t defend it well enough, but other than that the goals came too easily from things which were too simple for them.

“The quality’s really, really high, they’ve got excellent individual quality and they showed that with the goals and the chances that they created.

“If you give them those opportunities, then they were certainly able to capitalise on them.”

Photo: TWTD

VanDusen added 18:20 - Oct 5 Spot on assessment. That's how to deal with an under par performance Russell Martin...
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Gforce added 18:34 - Oct 5 Once again summed up in a concise and honest manner by Mckenna. A terrible performance today,but we just have to put it behind us,learn from it and move on. It's still early days,but the table is already looking much like it might look at the end of the season. We just need to give it all we've got,with maximum effort every game,to ensure we finish top of the bottom six.

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Suffolkboy added 18:40 - Oct 5 KM on the ball, on the nail and cool as usual : no doubt Monday on the training ground will be quite intense and concentrated ! Onwards and upwards ; Johnson on a learning curve, H C getting fitter and greater coordination in defence bound to be a discussion point ! COYB
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Tractorboy1985 added 18:52 - Oct 5 Ben Johnson is garbage… thee end! Seen enough already! Put Georgia Steel down for 5 mins (hard I must admit) and get fit Harry!! COYB
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blues1 added 18:58 - Oct 5 Tractorboy1985. Yes, alIihnson was poor bit je qaa left totally exposed time after time bcse burns didn't help him out at all.
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blueboy1981 added 19:00 - Oct 5 ……. you mean ‘Gift Wrapped’ surely ?
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 19:09 - Oct 5 Kieran gives an assessment that is as positive as possible within the limits of objectivity. I really appreciate that he does not talk bulls***t unlike many other managers I could name.
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Tractorboy1985 added 19:39 - Oct 5 I’d take you more serious @blue1 if you could communicate in English…..
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cressi added 20:18 - Oct 5 I've been going since 1970 if we are honest defensively we were fairly shambolic bit like away at Leeds last season and we came back from that we have to learn. Muric does not inspire me we confidence he may be a great shot stopper But a mistake is never far away.
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Tractorboy1985 added 20:24 - Oct 5 Agree @cressi and banter @blues1 and got your point and totally agree Burns left him totally exposed at all times! A disappointing result.. it’s horrible being beat but after gameweek 7 we remain where we all want to be at the end of the season! Much to learn.. trust in Kieron and let’s continue to enjoy the journey! Uppa Towen
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billlm added 20:44 - Oct 5 This game all hinges on greave header that was a free one and he missed, With their form they probably would of folded, Hence didn't as they scored a few minutes later, Big boost if we had gone 2-1 up from 1-0 down, that's football,
2

ArnieM added 23:02 - Oct 5 Burns isn't good rough for PL. He offers zero threat going forward (rarely beats his man or offers a decent cross) and does eff all in defensive back up. Talking of degence, why did the defence not travel with the squad today, anyone know?
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tractorboybig added 07:45 - Oct 6 lets be honest we rode our luck 7-1 would not have been unfair
1

SpiritOfJohn added 08:22 - Oct 6 That's the first time Kieran has been surprised by the strengths of the opposition. Maybe he got a bit carried away like the rest of us with our previous performance against Villa? Playing Clarke, Hutchinson and Burns away from home left us a bit lightweight against a very durect and physical side. Also a bit late on the subs yesterday. Why not bring on Taylor or Szmodics earlier for Hutchinson? Lessons to be learned on all fronts...

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churchmans added 10:16 - Oct 6 Muric all over the shop again and there goals where just easy walk ins! I'm sure KM will put this right! Strange when you take into account the last 4 games
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Linkboy13 added 10:53 - Oct 6 I think like Southampton we are a team of good championship players and the game against them was a championship standard game. The most worrying thing about the game was the team spirit that was built up under McKenna was missing. We made West Ham look very good and so far i haven't seen enough to convince me we can stay up. I think we will get points at home but away it's going to be difficult. Last season McKenna worked wonders with a average squad and we over achieved. Maybe this is a step too far and our rise to the top has been to quick.

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churchmans added 11:10 - Oct 6 Linkboy13 Don't sweat it mate there are teams worse than us! I'm sure KM will watch the match again and will probably be changes for the home game and our first win of the season at home to everton! I predict we will see Walton get another crack woolfy in a back 3 and possibly 2 others starting like maybe smzodics or broadhead maybe both! The manager has done this before and I guess it will send out a message to the squad players that if you haveva bad game there are others that will come in and give completion for places!! Who knows!!! We will see! But we will be fine I'm sure of it

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Bert added 13:21 - Oct 6 Agree that we were poor defensively with personal mistakes. That said we had two really good chances just missing and that could have changed the game our way. We knew it was going to be hard but to judge Johnson on so few games he has played is wrong. Quite a few had a bad day, it will happen but we have seen enough over 7 games to give us a sporting chance of staying up if we cut out mistakes. Delap is incredible !!

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Linkboy13 added 19:17 - Oct 6 It wasn't the defeat that hurt but the terrible lack of team spirit in the team that doesn't bide well for the future. McKenna must drop those player no matter how much they cost who didn't put the work rate in. A defence will always struggle knowing they have a goalkeeper behind them that dosent inspire confidence. The Tuanzebe injury is a strange one being that it's a hand injury and he could be out for weeks. Players normally play with some sort of protection even after break.

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Karlosfandangal added 19:18 - Oct 6 Linkboy13 My worry is we have a team of good Championship players which Town spent £120 million on. These players will get better and some will become good Premiership players, it’s how long before they do. Even if Town do stay up I still feel that the KmK will leave at the end of the season taking most of the back room staff and some of the players who will become good Premiership players will follow. I prefer the Championship to be honest as 7 games in the Prem is done with the same 3 teams top of the table the same 5 of 6 scrabbling for 4 and 5 and the rest making up the numbers.

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ImAbeliever added 09:19 - Oct 7 That’s the shortest KMcK match summary I can recall!? Less is more?
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Linkboy13 added 16:46 - Oct 7 McKenna said they didn't have to work for their goals it's a nice way of saying the attitude of some of the players was not good enough. We have spent a lot of money on championship players who are finding the physicality and pace of the premier league a bit too hot. Delap has been excellent but he has pace and physicality along with ability. I hope im proved wrong but apart from scoring a goal against Man city Smzodic's has looked way off being a Premier league player struggling with the physical demands of the premier league looking very lightweight.

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