McLeish's View: West Ham (a)

Last updated : 11 February 2010 By Brian Cartlidge

McLeish was disappointed that Blues had conceded the first goal so late in the first half half and duly admitted that the team had not performed well enough in the second half to have taken anything from the match.

A superb Alessandro Diamanti free-kick in first half stoppage time and a second half goal from Carlton Cole gave the Hammers a somewhat comfortable 2-0 win at Upton Park.

"First-half I thought we were fine, I didn't feel that we were under any real threat but I'm very disappointed with the Diamanti goal," McLeish said after the match. 

"We should have seen the time out and got into the dressing room to regroup. I didn't feel we were under too much pressure in the first half.

"It's not like us to concede in that way.

"But it was an exceptional free-kick and you've got to hold your hands up.

"We just couldn't finish the moves off. We had balls flashing across the box but just couldn't score.

"I don't think we played as well in the second-half as we did in the first.

"West Ham deserved to win it on the night. They're in a false position with the players they've got and that result will help them."