West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce believes that fatigue cost them in their FA Cup defeat to West Bromwich Albion, but now with only the Premier League to focus their energies on, the Hammers will look to give a good account of themselves.
Allardyce's side lost 4-0 against Tony Pulis’ West Brom on Saturday in their fifth round FA Cup tie and bowed out of the prestigious domestic cup competition.
Having played Manchester United on the 8th February and Southampton three days' later, West Ham’s FA Cup tie was their third match within the span of a week. Allardyce believes that the quick succession of matches in such a short span of time cost them dearly.
“It was a game too far for us based on our Premier League fixtures over the past week”, he was quoted as saying by the club site.
“They didn't give us the right opportunity to go to West Brom and play better to try and win the tie.”
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The manager added that his players put their best efforts into their tie at the Hawthorns in order to continue their FA Cup run, but they couldn’t continue performing at the highest level as fatigue took over their desire.
“It was a game too far for us and we can see that in the players. As hard as they wanted to get through, their energy levels couldn't get them there.
“The players have given everything in a short space of time but it wasn't good enough on Saturday.”
However, the Hammers’ FA Cup setback notwithstanding, Allardyce has trained his sights on their Premier League campaign as he looks to guide his eighth placed team to a spot in Europe.
“The FA Cup is gone and we wanted it to go as far as we could, but if we hadn't had the Premier League fixtures we would have given a better account of ourselves.”
West Ham will look to take all three points when they play their fellow London outfit Tottenham Hotspur in their next Premier League fixture this weekend.
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