Football
PA Sport 9y

Sam Allardyce: West Ham United gifted goals to Manchester City

West Ham United boss Sam Allardyce bemoaned his side's regular loss of possession as they slumped to a tame 2-0 defeat at Manchester City.

The Hammers, who beat City 2-1 at Upton Park in the first half of the season, never looked likely to repeat the feat as a looping own goal from James Collins and a Sergio Aguero strike had the home side in control at the break.

Allardyce, whose side have won only once in 11 league games, said: "The disappointing thing firstly was the goals were gifted to Manchester City, and secondly the amount of possession we allowed ourselves to lose.

"The two mistakes we made for the goals... one was pretty bizarre and the other unexpected from a player as experienced as Stewart Downing [who lost possession in the build-up].

"We had the resilience and determination to try to fight back and in the second half, eventually changing the system got us back playing better going forward.

"We created good chances for Kevin Nolan and Enner Valencia, but you have got to convert them."

Asked for his opinion on the incident that saw David Silva taken to hospital with a suspected fractured cheekbone or collarbone after he was caught by the elbow of Cheikhou Kouyate -- who was booked -- Allardyce said: "Accidental. It was pretty innocuous. I didn't think it was a foul.

"I've just had a look now because everybody is talking about it. Everybody thinks it is a more serious attack from Cheikhou than it was. It doesn't look deliberate at all to me.

"He has no idea -- it has happened from behind him. He doesn't think he has done anything. You can see that reaction on the video on the laptop when you look at it."

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